Michael McNamara: Ireland's Risk - No Gas Storage, What Now?
Michael McNamara pressed the European Commission on Ireland's lack of gas storage and the country's exposure to possible supply shocks. He pointed to the Kinsale field's past capacity and asked what the Commission and experts advise now, given recent global energy risks.
Immediate concern: Ireland's exposure
Michael McNamara reminded the Commission that Ireland sits at the end of a gas line through the United Kingdom and currently has no gas storage. He warned this leaves Ireland uniquely exposed to a disastrous outcome in the event of a gas supply shock and referenced a derogation obtained because of that lack of capacity.
Questions about Kinsale and past storage use
McNamara noted reports that capacity existed in the Kinsale oil or gas field and that it may have been used for gas storage previously, questioning inconsistencies with what was communicated by Ireland. He asked the Commission and energy experts what steps should be taken now to address gas capacity and storage.
Commission response: energy security package and solidarity
The Commission replied that it is preparing an energy security package that incorporates lessons learned from recent events, including the invasion of Ukraine. The Commission underlined that storage is important, that national circumstances must be considered - including Ireland's situation - and that solidarity measures and other options are being assessed, including references to underground storage in Ukraine.
Implications and next steps
The exchange highlights immediate policy questions for Ireland and the EU on how to reduce exposure to global oil and gas shocks. McNamara's intervention frames the debate ahead of the Commission proposal and presses for clarity on national measures, regional solidarity and possible storage solutions.
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Thank you very much. I just wish to focus on energy storage and gas storage in particular. Obviously the Commissioner and many of the presenters put considerable emphasis on it. Ireland, notwithstanding being at the end of a gas line which flows through the United Kingdom, has no gas storage, so is uniquely positioned for a pretty disastrous outcome in the event of a gas supply shock. A derogation was obtained on the basis that Ireland didn't have any gas storage capacity. On the other hand, it does appear that there was capacity in the Kinsale oil field or the Kinsale gas field and that it may well even have been used for gas storage purposes in the past, notwithstanding whatever was communicated by Ireland. So my question is, what are the Commission and what would the experts say to Ireland with regard to gas capacity storage now in the world in which we live, in the world in which we face into the near future? Thank you. Thanks a lot. No other members who want to ask questions. So before we will switch to the phasing out Russian gas and oil supplies, the next part of our discussion, I will give the floor for two or three minutes to the Director if you want to answer on these questions now or maybe first to the Commission. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. Thank you very much and good morning. So the question that was raised regarding Ireland, we are now preparing a package, energy security package proposal, which is incorporating the latest events, which is how to address the situation based on the lessons learned from the past. In particular, the invasion of Ukraine has been very challenging for both electricity and gas. And now the situation that we experience, where even if there is no problem with security supply or limited problems so far, there is a high exposure due to the global crisis of oil and gas. So it is clearly that storage plays an important role in Europe. And we are looking as well at this issue, taking into account the national circumstances, in particular Ireland, as you mentioned, with no storages. There was already previously solidarity measures in order to ensure that gas storage can be used in other neighboring countries. So I think this is just to try to address the situation and the national specificities. And maybe this brings as well to the underground storages in Ukraine.
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