Call for land-owners to refuse access to DIAS testing exercise

Belcoo Frack Free challenges lack of local consultation or explanation

2008 SEAI study has already found no opportunities for CCS in region

Chair of Belcoo Frack Free, Tom White, has asked local land-owners to refuse access to anyone wanting to carry out tests on behalf of the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS).

“Once again further testing, for a different technology, is set to commence in the Summer when neither the Stormont Assembly or Dáil are sitting. This time it is to assess the potential for the Northwest Carboniferous Basin (including Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim) to become a zone for long-term carbon sequestration.

“There are many questions to be answered about this exercise but the agencies involved have completely failed to engage with any of the local communities or campaign groups.

“Carbon capture and sequestration involves collecting huge volumes of emissions from large plants, pressurizing it into a liquid form and pumping it into rock in the hope that these highly poisonous gases never leak back to the surface. A previous study conducted by the Sustainable Energies Authority of Ireland in 2008 has already concluded that carbon storage in the Northwest Carboniferous basin would result in high well pressures and an unacceptable risk of well failure.

“Belcoo Frack Free is concerned that the information gathered from this seemingly unnecessary exercise could be useful to those who wish to bring the threat of fracking back to our county.

“In the absence of any meaningful engagement we are asking local land-owners to refuse access to their land to anyone seeking to conduct these tests”, Mr White concluded.