Residents Oppose Expansion of Oil Facility At Cloghan Point

8th December 2019

According to BBC Newsline, people living along the shores of Belfast Lough (above) say they're opposed to the development of a major oil importation facility close to their homes. The plan would see large tankers docking near Whitehead to pump off fuel. Those opposed to the plans say they don't fit with everything the public is being told about climate change and the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Afloat adds also above a cargoship inbound to Belfast Harbour while a ferry heads out of port. Credit: Belfast Harbour -facebook

Along the shores of Belfast Lough, people living in the area have said they cannot understand the logic for the expansion of an oil facility that would see large tankers offloading fuel several times a month.

The £20m project, reports BBC News NI, would see the redevelopment of the Cloghan Point facility near Whitehead.

The company behind it said it would create jobs and deliver cheaper fuel.

The site was built in the late 1970s to serve Ballylumford and Kilroot Power stations.

It did this for several years.

But, in more recent times, the four large tanks have been used to store part of the Republic of Ireland's strategic reserve of diesel and gas oil.

Local people said that meant it was a static site with little activity.

To read much more click here and for TV coverage (click arrow on first photo).

Published in Belfast Lough

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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