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Welsh LNG terminal safety disaster

Anti-pipeline activist | 10.10.2007 12:47 | Climate Chaos

A rig at the Welsh LNG terminal at Milford Haven collapsed into the sea causing one death and seven injuries

On Saturday afternoon a platform that forms part of the LNG terminal, that will be used to bring huge quantities of gas into Wales, collapsed into the sea. Workers were thrown into the water causing 7 people severe injuries and one death. The port was re-opened the next day despite this severe safety risk.

This is the first major disaster on the pipleine that has caused been constantly criticised for its safety breaches and negative impact on the environment. Since the pipeline was proposed protesters have been raising awareness about how dangerous it will be and this is now highlighted as a death has already been caused before the construction has even finished. It is frightening to think of the impact it will have when massive quantities of gas are involved (likely to be a huge explosion killing hundreds).

The pipeline should clearly not be built but it seems the government and the media are determined not to let people know of the great risks it poses. There is more info on the bbc website ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7033356.stm) but it very much plays down how serious this issue is.

There is a day of action on Monday 15th against Royal Bank of Scotland who are the main funders of the pipeline so get involved and raise awareness about this killer of people and the enviroment. (visit risingtide.org.uk)

Anti-pipeline activist

Additions

Don't forget about the European Investment Bank!

10.10.2007 16:26

The European Investment Bank, the EU's own bank, is giving a loan of EUR 558 million for the "National Grid Gas Transmission II" project, which seems to include this South Wales gas pipeline, if I got it right. See  http://www.eib.org/projects/loans/regions/european-union/GB/loan.htm?id=1206248

I'm all for targetting RBS but don't forget about the EIB - in terms of lending volume it's bigger than the World Bank, yet it never gets as much flak in spite of being involved in Heathrow T5, the London Underground PPP, the Chad-Cameroon pipeline, several incinerators and a host of other dodgy projects. Good luck!

EIB Watcher