Larne Lough campaigners appeal gas cavern plans

Campaigners against the plan sought a judicial review at the High Court last year

Campaigners against a plan to construct gas caverns under Larne Lough have continued their legal challenge at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

It comes after the High Court ruled last year that the project was lawful.

A barrister for the group told the court few projects "come close to this in terms of strategic significance in terms of energy supply and security".

The proposal would see seven large storage caverns hollowed out underneath the lough by carving out salt layers.

The space will be able to store about half a billion cubic metres of natural gas, creating a 14-day buffer during periods of peak demand.

Groups including Friends of the Earth and No Gas Caverns argue the project should have been referred to the Northern Ireland Executive because of its cross-cutting nature.

They add a community fund, which was taken into account as a mitigating measure in approving the decision, was an irrelevant consideration.

The groups previously sought a judicial review of the decision on the same grounds.

That challenge was later dismissed.

The project would see caverns hollowed out under Larne Lough

In court on Tuesday, barrister for the campaign groups Conor Fegan told the panel of judges the significance of the project was recognised at EU level when it was awarded Project of Common Interest status in 2013.

He said it was "expressly described" as significant by civil servants.

Speaking at the High Court on Tuesday, Lisa Dobbie of the No Gas Caverns group said the challenge had been brought with the support of "hundreds" of people who had donated to their campaign.

They are concerned about the impact on wildlife, although that issue does not form part of the legal action.

He added the plan will potentially lock Northern Ireland into fossil fuels for up to four decades when there is a target of reducing emissions to net zero by 2050.

While the proposal is initially intended to store natural gas, the long-term plan is to store hydrogen, as a product of surplus wind power generation.

Islandmagee Energy, the firm behind the project, has previously said there will be no long-term damage to wildlife and that any impact created by the discharge of brine - very salty water - would be confined to a small area at an approved distance offshore, away from Larne Lough.

The hearing continues on Wednesday.