Can Ofreg provide examples of other emergent gas regions?
A. Within the EU countries which have new natural gas industries include Portugal and Greece. Natural gas is also new to the province of Connaught in the ROI. Ofreg has begun a dialogue with the Portugese and would be happy to share the results with the committee. To be really effective in lobbying EU institutions, action at political level is however essential. Northern Ireland has little to lose and potentially much to gain by seeking to persuade the Commission that emergent gas regions – which, by coincidence, also tend to be at the end of the supply chain for fossil fuels and to have above average potential in renewables – can contribute to the EU’s C02 targets disproportionately if they are given additional help in the form of favourable energy taxation regimes and grant aid to develop infrastructure and accelerate the growth of renewables. Q. What further measures can the Northern Ireland Assembly take to ensure its contribution to the development of the renewable energy market i
