December 02, 2025 [Upstream]- Ireland has selected a location to site a floating storage and regasification unit as it moves to provide additional security to its existing pipeline gas supplies.

Gas Networks Ireland said Cahiracon, in County Clare, along the Shannon Estuary, will be the site for the state-led new Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve (SGER) project, Upstream’s sister title TradeWinds reported.

It said the site will be developed to include a deep-water jetty for an FSRU, an onshore facility and a new connection to the national gas network.

The FSRU, which it said will typically hold up to 170,000 cubic metres of liquefied natural gas, will be owned and operated on behalf of the state by Gas Networks.

The Shannon site was chosen after a trawl through 14 possible locations around the coastline of Ireland, Gas Networks said.

Three were shortlisted. Engineers and consultants then carried out detailed site assessments at locations in Cork Harbour and the Shannon Estuary.

Evaluations were assessed against technical, environmental, financial and planning criteria and the Cahiracon site was deemed to best meet the project needs, the project leader said.

reland and several developers have been flirting with the idea of siting an FSRU in the country for years.

The Irish government approved the delivery of the SGER in March, deeming it critical for the country’s energy security.

Ireland currently imports about 80% of its gas via two interconnectors from Britain, which it mainly uses to generate electricity.

Gas currently provides about 30% of Ireland’s main energy needs and typically generates more than 40% of its electricity, or 80% at peak demand.

The SGER said: “Ireland is the only European country with no domestic gas storage, no long-term indigenous supplies and no alternative supply routes. This leaves us uniquely and unacceptably vulnerable to disruption.”