This article is from page 13 of the 2007-10-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 13 JPG
THE Government has opened a huge area off the Clare coast for explora- tion by oil and gas companies.
New exploration licences will al- low firms to explore a section of the Porcupine Basin, located between 100
and 200kms off the Clare, Galway and Kerry coasts. The 63,500 square kilo- metre area is located beside the Span- ish Point and Burren oil and gas fields which are currently under exploration by Providence Resources.
Speaking at the announcement of the new exploration licences, Green
Party TD Eamon Ryan said profit- able oil and gas fields could reap huge sums for the Exchequer.
“Treland’s oil and gas is a resource of the people. I want to ensure that our waters are fully explored and also that we get a proper return to the State,” he said.