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Gas to the West competition launched by Utility Regulator | Gas to the West competition launched by Utility Regulator |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The competition to build a new gas pipeline serving the west of Northern Ireland has been launched by the Utility Regulator. | The competition to build a new gas pipeline serving the west of Northern Ireland has been launched by the Utility Regulator. |
The Gas to the West project will serve Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Derrylin, Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt. | The Gas to the West project will serve Strabane, Omagh, Enniskillen, Derrylin, Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown and Magherafelt. |
The scheme will cost around £200m, with up to £32.5m of that coming from the Department of Enterprise. | The scheme will cost around £200m, with up to £32.5m of that coming from the Department of Enterprise. |
Likely bidders for the project include Phoenix Gas and Firmus Energy. | Likely bidders for the project include Phoenix Gas and Firmus Energy. |
Both companies already own gas networks in Northern Ireland. | |
Phoenix owns the pipeline network in Greater Belfast and Larne, while Firmus owns what is known as the "10 towns" network that includes Armagh, Ballymena, Craigavon, Londonderry and Newry. | Phoenix owns the pipeline network in Greater Belfast and Larne, while Firmus owns what is known as the "10 towns" network that includes Armagh, Ballymena, Craigavon, Londonderry and Newry. |
Other bidders are likely to include Mutual Energy and Scotia Gas which owns the network in Scotland. | Other bidders are likely to include Mutual Energy and Scotia Gas which owns the network in Scotland. |
The pipeline will allow up to 40,000 new customer connections and should allow some big industrial operators to significantly cut energy costs. | The pipeline will allow up to 40,000 new customer connections and should allow some big industrial operators to significantly cut energy costs. |
Utility Regulator chief executive Jenny Pyper said it would "provide choice, strengthen the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland energy market and promote further investment". | Utility Regulator chief executive Jenny Pyper said it would "provide choice, strengthen the competitiveness of the Northern Ireland energy market and promote further investment". |
It is expected that the licence to build the pipeline will be awarded this autumn. | It is expected that the licence to build the pipeline will be awarded this autumn. |
After this, construction work is likely to take at least two years. | After this, construction work is likely to take at least two years. |
Enterprise Minster Arlene Foster said the project was important for Northern Ireland as a whole. | Enterprise Minster Arlene Foster said the project was important for Northern Ireland as a whole. |
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