Appeal for Killyleagh gas expansion

Appeal for Killyleagh gas expansion

19 January 2022

THE energy regulator has been asked to pave the way for mains gas to be pumped to home and business owners in Killyleagh.

With mains gas widely available across East Down and in nearby Comber, Strangford MLA Peter Weir is keen for consumers in Killyleagh and other parts of the Ards peninsula to have increased access to energy providers and be given the opportunity to use natural gas.

He recently met with Phoenix Gas which is investing £60m to expand its network across East Down, with work on the company’s s five-year investment programme expected to conclude this year. 

Contractors are currently completing schemes in the Newcastle and Castlewellan areas.

The Strangford Assemblyman described his recent meeting with Phoenix officials as “productive” with the focus on expanding the natural gas network to consumers throughout the constituency.

Mr Weir said the gas company could play a critical role on the road towards decarbonising the energy supply by 2050, with Phoenix the largest gas network in Northern Ireland covering the Greater Belfast area. 

“Particularly in these challenging times for energy prices and fuel poverty, it is vital that affordability is central to energy policy and choice of supply is made available to consumers,” the MLA continued.

“I pressed Phoenix on the expansion of its natural gas network both to Killyleagh and further down along the Ards Peninsula and it is good to see that there is no reluctance from the company to expand its provision for these areas.”

Mr Weir explained that the current “blockage” for this to happen in Killyleagh and parts of the peninsula lies with the energy regulator, on the economic grounds of cost.

He continued: “I believe that this approach needs to change and with the publication of the Department for the Economy energy strategy just before Christmas, with an implementation plan due to be produced in the next few weeks, I hope that new opportunities will open up, with a potential alteration to the role and power of the regulator.

“I will certainly be pressing the regulator for the opportunity for the natural gas network to expand to give consumer choice in Killyleagh and the rest of the Ards peninsula in the days and weeks to come.”