Welton Village News > Star Energy "Confident" Welton Underground Gas Storage Will Go Ahead
"Welton Oilfield Drills / Map"
added by pauw, © Paul Swift
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Star Energy "Confident" Welton Underground Gas Storage Will Go Ahead
by pauw, added 24.09.06
Controversial plans to store 15 billion (15,000,000,000) cubic feet of gas under the Welton Gathering Centre near Sudbrooke, already rejected by Lincolnshire County Council, have been given a new lease of life in an application made directly to the Deputy Prime Minister's office.
Star Energy posted a huge increase in profits in its last half year announcement, with pre-tax profits jumping from losses of £0.4 million in 2005 growing to £8.2 million to June 2006, thanks to high oil prices and the acquisition of Pentex.
The planning application for the 15 billion cubic foot Welton site was rejected in February this year by Lincolnshire County Council due to safety and environmental concerns, but the backing of the planning officers involved have given Star Energy
leverage to launch an appeal.
Opposition to the original plans (originally citing an intended 2 billion cubic feet capacity) by local pressure group Agast stated serious safety concerns, and that people living nearby feared the gas could be dangerous if it leaked or pushed "the silent killer" hydrogen sulphide out from natural rock formations and into their homes - despite reassurances from the firm.
Steven Taylor of Agast noted that, in statements taken from Star Energy, the storage would "involve a high degree of risk" and that there were chances of:
- Environmental hazards
- Industrial accidents
- Occupational and health hazards
- Technical failures
- Flooding and extended interruptions
- Explosions and many more hazards not listed.
(See Lincoln Fringe Area Forum Meeting Notes here)
The appeal has been lodged with the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and Star Energy CEO Roland Wessel is confident it could finally obtain the permit soon, given the Parliamentary Statement of Need for additional gas supply infrastructure - in particular the need for additional gas storage in the UK - and the LCC's own planning officers' positive report.
"Going forward, we hope to adopt a different planning mechanism. We will submit [future applications] to the central government, with the local government [acting] as a consultee," said Wessel.
"This will give us a much better [visibility] of the project timeline in the planning process," he stressed.
Enquiries:
Roland Wessel, Chief Executive, Star Energy: 020 7730 6663
Star Energy (East Midlands) Ltd
Welton Gathering Centre
Barfield Lane, off Wragby Rd
Sudbrooke
Lincoln
LN2 2QU
Telephone: 01522 754 040
Fax: 01522 596 502
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