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New gas power station to be built New gas power station to be built
(about 2 hours later)
A new gas-burning power station is to be built at Kilroot, near Carrickfergus in County Antrim.A new gas-burning power station is to be built at Kilroot, near Carrickfergus in County Antrim.
The new facility is expected to cost more than £150m and should be operational by 2010.The new facility is expected to cost more than £150m and should be operational by 2010.
The coal-fired power station at Kilroot produces about one third of Northern Ireland's total electricity consumption.The coal-fired power station at Kilroot produces about one third of Northern Ireland's total electricity consumption.
It was designed to have a much greater capacity, but the full project was never completed.It was designed to have a much greater capacity, but the full project was never completed.
Now its American owners, AES, are to invest between £150-200m on a new gas turbine plant that will add a further 450 megawatts of generating capacity.Now its American owners, AES, are to invest between £150-200m on a new gas turbine plant that will add a further 450 megawatts of generating capacity.
This will include a 3km link to the gas pipeline.This will include a 3km link to the gas pipeline.
The company says 200 jobs will be created during the construction phase, which is due to start next summer.The company says 200 jobs will be created during the construction phase, which is due to start next summer.
Up to 80 new posts will come on-line when the plant goes into operation in 2010.Up to 80 new posts will come on-line when the plant goes into operation in 2010.
The additional output from Kilroot will be sold into the new all-island electricity market, in which all generators and suppliers north and south will participate.The additional output from Kilroot will be sold into the new all-island electricity market, in which all generators and suppliers north and south will participate.
East Antrim Alliance assembly member Sean Neeson welcomed the news.
"Whenever Kilroot was built, only half the project was completed and this great news signals the green light for its full completion," he said.
"This expansion will provide an excellent opportunity for the power station to take advantage of the single electricity market, which is to be opened up in November."