Gas pipe route to be revealed in Magherafelt

Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th March 2015 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye

Gas to the West moves a step closer.

The prospect of bringing gas to up to 40,000 new customers in the west of Northern Ireland moved closer today. At a launch in Enniskillen it was announced that two companies, Mutual Energy and SGN, have now been awarded conveyance licences to extend the natural gas network.

Pictured at the launch are John Morea, SGN Chief Executive; Jenny Pyper, Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator; Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster and Paddy Larkin, Chief Executive, Mutual Energy. — Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 4th March 2015 - Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye Gas to the West moves a step closer. The prospect of bringing gas to up to 40,000 new customers in the west of Northern Ireland moved closer today. At a launch in Enniskillen it was announced that two companies, Mutual Energy and SGN, have now been awarded conveyance licences to extend the natural gas network. Pictured at the launch are John Morea, SGN Chief Executive; Jenny Pyper, Chief Executive of the Utility Regulator; Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster and Paddy Larkin, Chief Executive, Mutual Energy.

The energy firms planning to bring the £250m gas line say the consultations will showcase the preferred route of the gas pipes.

The gas project is being implemented by two companies, Mutual Energy who have been awarded the licence for the high pressure pipeline and SGN Natural Gas, awarded the low pressure contract.

A new 100kms intermediate pipeline will be constructed to serve main towns in the west such as Cookstown, Coalisland,Dungannon, Omagh, Magherafelt and Strabane.

The construction involves fencing off a strip of land 50m in width and buying steel pipes. Both companies are confident they will have gas to the main towns by the end of 2017.

The companies are also seeking to discuss the project with potential suppliers and will be holding a series of Supplier Information Events, hoping to develop a network of local suppliers who can provide quality goods, work and services at competitive prices.

In addition to the manned public consultation events, display boards, information and feed back form will also be available in a number of towns across the Mid Ulster area. These include Magherafelt - Mid Ulster council offices [Ballyronan Road]; Moneymore - Moneymore Recreation Centre; Cookstown - Mid Ulster council offices [Burn Road].

The Stormont Executive have also committed £32m of public money to the project.

If you would like more information on the major gas project visit www.gastothewest.com

The consultation in the Bridewell Centre next Thursday, will run from 1pm until 8pm.