Shell's north Mayo facility wins Engineering Project of the Year award

THE Corrib Onshore gas pipeline has been voted Engineering Project of the Year, it has been announced.

The project, approximately 83km off the coast of Mayo, has become a critical piece of national infrastructure that will produce much of Ireland’s future gas supplies over the next 15 to 20 years.

It is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the state’s history, costing approximately €3.5 billion and will contribute some €6 billion to Ireland’s GDP.

The project was undertaken by Shell E&P (Ireland) Ltd, RPS Group Ltd, Roadbridge Ltd, BAM and W&F JV and won out in the flagship category of the seventh annual Engineers Ireland Excellence Awards, held in association with ESB, at a ceremony in the InterContinental Hotel in Dublin.

Speaking about the complex nature of the project, PJ Rudden, RPS director and a Chartered Engineer, said: “The Corrib Onshore gas pipeline was an extremely challenging project from the outset requiring the management of a diverse range of specialist expertise to produce major deliverables within extremely demanding timelines.

'These related to alternative pipeline corridors, alternative community engagement and involvement, environmental impact assessments, logistics management and construction issues.

“Ultimately, the Corrib initiative was a huge infrastructural undertaking that involved cutting-edge engineering expertise, from planning through to construction and operation, that has been delivered to the highest standards and within very tight time lines.

'On behalf of my project colleagues, it is extremely pleasing to have our efforts recognized by Engineers Ireland judges and the public vote,” Mr. Rudden added.

The Engineering Project of the Year is voted for by a panel of judges and also by the public.