An application by Endesa Ireland, part of the Spanish energy company, to build a combined-cycle gas turbine power plant on the former ESB station at Tarbert, Co Kerry has been given the go-ahead.

An Bord Pleanála has approved the power plant, which will generate up to 450 megawatts by 2016, is to be built within the confines of the existing power-generating plant at Tarbert, which is to be demolished, on the Shannon estuary opposite Moneypoint.

The plant is likely to be supplied with gas from the national gas network, An Bord Gáis, currently some 22km away, and possibly from the nearby liquified natural gas terminal, Shannon LNG, at Kilcolgan near Ballylongford.

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The new more energy efficient plant at Tarbert will occupy 10 hectares of the existing 42-hectare site and be constructed in two phases over four years.

The Endesa application came under the Strategic Infrastructure Act, which provides for planning applications for some major projects to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála, and an oral hearing was held earlier this year.

There are conditions to the approval with a community gain fund of €200,000, made up of four annual payments of €50,000, to begin the year of construction. The money is to be managed by a liaison committee made up of the local community in Tarbert, representatives of Kerry County Council and Endesa.

Other conditions include noise-level restrictions, screening and dust-control measures. There is a 10-year period for the development.

(BMcC/GK)