GIBRALTAR GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

No. 145/2015
Date: 6th March 2015

Government Addresses Environmental Safety Group’s Concerns

Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar notes the views expressed by the Environmental Safety Group regarding the storage of Liquid Natural Gas in Gibraltar. The Government takes this opportunity to reiterate that the necessary copious studies and assessments regarding the proposed facilities are underway and that there will be a full public consultation upon their completion.

This public consultation will involve our already-named experts, including the UK Health and Safety Laboratory Group Limited, who will brief the public on the investigations and work taken so far and will propose their preferred site for the installations. At that time, members of the public, including of course the ESG, will be invited to ask questions, to comment and voice any remaining concerns.

The Government echoes the ESG’s position that the priority is to move towards completion of the new facilities, but only after due diligence has been ensured, the Environmental Impact Assessment processes have been completed to international standards, and all the necessary health and safety considerations have been properly addressed.

Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC said, ‘The Government welcomes the ESG’s interest and is happy to confirm that it will offer all possible public consultation when the appropriate assessments have been completed.’