Interconnector hearing will resume next month

A PUBLIC inquiry into the Northern Ireland section of the £200m North-South Interconnector project is due to resume next month.

Planning approval by authorities in the Republic for the southern part of the interconnector has already been given the green light.

In December, An Bord Pleanala approved an application by EirGrid, which operates electricity infrastructure in the Republic, for the construction of the overhead pylons in southern border counties.

And a public inquiry into approving the scheme in Northern Ireland is now due to take place at Armagh City Hotel on February22.

If also approved in Northern Ireland, the line will start at a sub-station in south Tyrone before running into counties Armagh, Monaghan, Cavan and Meath.

The approval of an application by EirGrid’s counterpart, the System Operator for Northern Ireland (SONI), is subject to the public inquiry in February.

Business organisations here have said the Republic’s approval was good news and have said the interconnector could help guarantee future security of supply for electricity users, replacing ageing infrastructure on both sides of the border.