Proposal for new LNG terminal in Gironde Estuary thrown-out

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The Prefect of the Gironde this week rejected the proposal by the Dutch company 4Gas for a new liquid Natural gas facility at Verdon, saying that the document that had been submitted was inadmissible in its current state.  But it is unlikely to mean the end for the controversial plan, with the door left open for the company to re-submit an amended version of the proposal.

The project has sparked opposition on both sides of the estuary, with high profile politicians such as the Secretary of State for Transport Dominique Bussereau and deputy mayor of Royan Didier Quentin providing the most vocal opposition.  Opposition groups have already been formed with ‘Une point pour tous' and ‘Estuaire 33-17' putting pressure on decision makers to reject the project.

The proposed facility is seen as a key infrastructure project that will open up domestic gas markets in both south west and south east France, as well as Spain and Italy.  The terminal itself will take shipments of liquified natural gas (LNG) from foreign producers, convert it back into domestic gas and store it in a large tank, for onward distribution.  However, opponents have focused on both the appearance of the large storage tank and the potential environmental issues as reasons to reject it.

The decision was announced in the National Assembly this week by Hubert Falco, Secretary of State for Town and Country Planning.  Whilst accepting the need for natural gas in France, he pointed out that the project needs to be looked at again in light of the 2007 Grenelle forum on the environment.

Prefect of the Gironde Francis Idrac confirmed that the document was inadmissible in its current state, with the main bone of contention that it had failed one of the basic area planning laws, which prohibits building within 100m of the shore.  This rejection is unlikely to halt the momentum of the project, which has already successfully completed a public enquiry.  The project manager Henk Jonkman has yet to comment on the situation, and will consult with his engineering team before responding.

Meanwhile, ecologists have uncovered another potential issue with the site of the proposed gas terminal, in that it will put at risk an endangered species of toad.  The Pelobatid Cultripede variety is well established on this part of the Medoc, and Christophe Coic, director of environmental group Cistade Nature, believes the project will put the species at risk.  The issue is not new, and in a response to the original public enquiry, 4Gas proposed that they be re-located.