Aug 22 - GSD Says LNG Safety Assessments Are "Lacking"

The GSD notes the statement made by the Government in which it announces a deal with Shell for the running of an LNG regasification plant as part of the process to provide LNG to fuel the power station.

A spokesman for the GSD said: "It further notes that the Government strongly alludes to the fact that LNG bunkering is to take place in the future. This of course is where the real interest lies for Shell, as we have stated all along.

"While Government states that this would take place 'following environmental assessments and safeguards', the GSD is yet to see in the public domain anything definitive that makes the present plans acceptably safe, let alone increasing activity with future bunkering.

"It is appropriate to remind people that the MOD's opinion of the Environmental Impact Assessment forwarded to the DPC for the project was withdrawn at the public meeting and discussed behind closed doors. Nothing about a project of this scale and public interest should be dealt with in secret.

"An increase in LNG vessels in the Bay will inevitably lead to an increased risk, the recent collisions between vessels within BGTW just serve to highlight how real this risk is. The GSD, in the interest of the community,will continue to pursue the evidence to support the Government's assessment that these projects are acceptably safe, evidence which thus far is lacking."

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