Judgement reserved in Larne Lough gas caverns project case

By Court Reporter
Published 6th May 2023, 11:05 BST
Updated 6th May 2023, 17:11 BST
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Judgment was reserved yesterday (Friday) in a High Court bid to stop a major undersea gas storage project being built off the Co Antrim coast.

Opponents claim former Stormont Minister Edwin Poots unlawfully approved the facility at Larne Lough without obtaining consent from Executive Committee colleagues.

Local campaign group No Gas Caverns and Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland are challenging his grant of a marine licence for the underground units.

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Following four days of legal arguments, Mr Justice Humphreys confirmed he will give his ruling at a later date.

Laganside court complex.Laganside court complex.
Laganside court complex.

He said: “I do recognise that it is a hard case and a significant case within the contemplation of a number of interest groups, commercial, environmental and otherwise. It may take me some time to write the judgment, but I will endeavour to do it as soon as possible.”

In 2021 Mr Poots, then Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, gave consent for the development by Islandmagee Energy Ltd. The plans involve carving seven caverns by a method known as solution mining.