Canatxx LNG Waits For Preesall Green Light

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Canatxx LNG Waits For Preesall Green Light

by Nathan Daniels
(UK)

Canatxx LNG Limited, which secured permission to build a regasification plant at Amlwch on Anglesey last December, is waiting for a controversial gas storage facility application in Lancashire, England to be given the green light.

The Texas-based energy company plans to unload the liquified natural gas (LNG) from tankers at Amlwch, and pipe the liquid ashore in special cryogenic pipes.

At the regasification plant the LNG evaporates into natural gas using special equipment.

The gas would then be pumped through a 70 mile undersea pipeline in Irish Sea to Preesall, near Fleetwood in north west Lancashire.

A £300m gas storage facility in salt caverns at Preesall would then receive and store this natural gas.

A Canatxx spokesman said the company has permission for the Anglesey stage of the process but cannot complete the project until the Preesall stage catches up.

Plans for storing the natural gas in these salt caverns were thrown out last September, after a public inquiry.

However, after resubmitting the application in June, a succesful outcome should give a new lease of life to the development at Amlwch.

The Anglesey stage of the project would see special mooring platform, two miles offshore, enabling tankers carrying up to 55 million gallons of LNG from the Middle East to dock securely in most weather conditions.

When the Amlwch and Preesall facilities are combined, they would provide a safe, secure and economical environment for delivering gas to boost UK energy needs.

Indeed such a combination, of LNG terminal and gas storage, would be a world first.

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Canatxx LNG Waits For Preesall Green Light

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Feb 17, 2010
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Really dangerous?
by: Common Sense

If the company is "only about making money" why would they choose a location that according to you will collapse, costing them the lost gas, massive reputational issue and following law suits from damaged parties?

You can't have it both ways. Either it's dangersous OR they're only in it for the money.

And by the way, there are millions of people who go to work to make money but who are also interested in the wellbeing of those effected by their work.

Feb 24, 2009
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Gas storage urgently needed
by: Jocelyn

An article by Ed Crooks in the FT (23 February 2009) says that the UK urgently needs to boost its investment in gas storage capacity, but the current global economic and financial crisis is affecting progress.

I understand Canatxx has secured planning consent for its Anglesey LNG regasification facility at Amlwch port, and the undersea pipeline to Nateby has also had the green light.

Seems the hold up is off Preesall regarding the proposed gas storage facility, though I think a new application has gone forward.

Just think about this strategically. The UK has gas storage capacity for about 4 per cent of annual consumption, compared to 24 per cent in France and 21 per cent in Germany.

Amazingly, the article suggests that if all the projects currently in the pipeline ("sorry, couldn't resist the pun!") were to be actioned, Britain would see its coverage of annual gas demand go up to 17 per cent, not far off its 20 per cent target.

I just hope the good people of West Lancashire can see the strategic importance of this key link in the chain.

The sooner the UK has another supply of LNG flowing and the storage capacity to go with it, the better, in my opinion.

Seems the gas industry is asking the UK government Treasury to give it tax relief on what they call the "cushion gas".

Let's hope some heads get knocked together soon!

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Feb 24, 2009
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Submitted by: Jocelyn

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An article by Ed Crooks in the FT (23 February 2009) says that the UK urgently needs to boost its investment in gas storage capacity, but the current global economic and financial crisis is affecting progress. I understand Canatxx has secured planning consent for its Anglesey LNG regasification facility at Amlwch port, and the undersea pipeline to Nateby has also had the green light. Seems the hold up is off Preesall regarding the proposed gas storage facility, though I think a new application has gone forward. Just think about this strategically. The UK has gas storage capacity for about 4 per cent of annual consumption, compared to 24 per cent in France and 21 per cent in Germany. Amazingly, the article suggests that if all the projects currently in the pipeline ("sorry, couldn't resist the pun!") were to be actioned, Britain would see its coverage of annual gas demand go up to 17 per cent, not far off its 20 per cent target. I just hope the good people of West Lancashire can see the strategic importance of this key link in the chain. The sooner the UK has another supply of LNG flowing and the storage capacity to go with it, the better, in my opinion. Seems the gas industry is asking the UK government Treasury to give it tax relief on what they call the "cushion gas". Let's hope some heads get knocked together soon!

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Nov 12, 2008
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We need more LNG now
by: John Williams

I think you show the wrong attitude and approach to what is a very important part of the UK Energy Security strategy.

We need to diversify our energy sources and by using LNG from countries like Qatar, Trinidad and others we will reduce the risk of over reliance on one unstable state.

UK plc needs a balanced energy policy, and now it looks as if we will get this. Clean coal, gas (including LNG), and nuclear as well as more windmills out at sea.

Perhaps they could build a 1,000 wind turbines outside your home? I'm sure you wouldn't mind that.

From what I hear Anglesey needs as many job opportunities as it can get. Things look shaky with the aluminium smelter at Holyhead and the nuclear power plant at Wylfa starts decommissioning in 2010.

Nov 10, 2008
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Canatxx Lies
by: Anonymous

The proposed storage facility in Preesall was thrown out at the last public enquiry because it is unsafe and includes the storage of gas in uncharted underground caverns. These caverns are unstable and provide inadequate support for for the proposed storage. Gas has never been stored in caverns like this before and has never been stored in this kind of rocksalt. These caverns subside regularly, the land around and above the caverns shifts dramatically, sometimes visibly. This is a dangerous and unsafe project which cannot be allowed to happen. Local people will fight these applications again and again. Surveys used for the planning applications are based on vague truths and embellished information. Canatxx lies. I urge the people of Anglesey not to put the future of their local economy in a company that will lie and bribe their way into operation. Jack Straw has very recently accepted money from this company. They care only about profit. The people of Anglesey are not important to this company.

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Canatxx LNG Waits For Preesall Green Light

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Canatxx LNG Waits For Preesall Green Light