SHELL blockaded on first day

by Shell to Sea Mon Jul 25, 2011 11:33

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION NEXT FRIDAY AS SHELL’S FIRST DAY OF TUNNEL WORK HALTED

-- Hundreds of campaigners heading to Erris for day of action --

Shell’s long-awaited attempt to start work on its controversial tunnel near Rossport today has been halted by campaigners, who erected a 20-foot high tripod on the road (see link to image below).

Shell to Sea has called a national day of action for this Friday, July 29th. Hundreds of supporters from around Ireland are expected to arrive in the area this week for Friday’s action.

At 7am this morning (July 25th, 2011), a tripod was erected by campaigners from the Rossport Solidarity Camp on the road between Shell’s Bellanaboy refinery site and its compound at Aughoose. A campaigner is suspended from the tripod, about 15 feet above the ground. This is preventing the company from erecting fencing around the compound, from where it plans to remove 125,000 tonnes of peat, in order to dig a 5km tunnel under Sruwaddacon Estuary. Shell plans to lay its ultra-high pressure raw gas pipeline in the tunnel.

Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington said: “Opposition to this experimental project is as strong as ever. Today’s tripod action is an indicator of the kind of resistance Shell can expect as it tries to dig its tunnel.”

“Shell recently stated that it had all the necessary consents for its onshore pipeline. In fact, it does not have the most important consent – that of the affected communities.”

“As Shell prepared for today’s start of work, its security firm, IRMS, has been acting as a de facto private army in the area. Last Friday, more than 70 IRMS staff blocked the public road, with no Gardaí to be seen. Several campaigners were assaulted, with two requiring medical treatment.”

“Not only is this project a threat to the health and safety of local people and the environment: it will bring no benefits to people in Ireland. This was again highlighted by the recent Commission for Energy Regulation report.”

Earlier this month, the Commission for Energy Regulation warned that energy price rises for Irish consumers would be “very likely” if the gas from Corrib comes ashore.

Meanwhile, Shell’s global operations are expected to earn the company in excess of its record annual profits of $27.5bn in 2008, which is the highest amount ever made by a British company in one year. Shell is expected to announce second quarter profits of $6.7bn, up by 43pc on last year.

According to Shell’s submission to the Bord Pleanala hearing in 2010, construction of the 4.9km tunnel will take 26 months. It would involve 24-hour-a-day tunnelling and up to 472 truck movements a day on roads so narrow in places that two cars cannot pass each other.

Photo of today’s tripod action, 25 July 2011:
www.indymedia.ie/attachments/jul2011/tripod_day_one_2.jpg

Photos of IRMS blocking public road, Friday 22 July 2011:
www.shelltosea.com/content/shell-starts-work-onshore-pipeline-corrib-gas-project

Corrib gas could push up prices (Sunday Business Post, 10 July 2011):
www.sbpost.ie/news/ireland/corrib-gas-could-push-up-prices-57391.html

Oil companies poised to unveil huge profits (Daily Telegraph, 23 July 2011):
www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/8657075/Oil-companies-poised-to-unveil-huge-profits.html

by Rossport Solidarity Camp - Rossport Solidarity Camp Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:37

Scaffolding team, cutting team and Garda have arrived at the tripod blockade.

Meanwhile at the Bord Na Mona site in Bangor, the site is closed once more.
Shell have been unable to complete a days work there for the seventh day in a row.

by Rossport Solidarity Camp - Rossport Solidarity Camp Mon Jul 25, 2011 10:26

10.30 am update
Three and a half hours after it was erected, the tripod blockade is still holding the road and no deliveries have yet been made. Scones have just been delivered via local supporters.