Solent Pipeline Project: Important update

The CLA South East team met with representatives from ExxonMobil (also known as Esso Petroleum Ltd) recently, to discuss the Solent CO2 pipeline which may affect CLA members in south Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

ExxonMobil says the Solent CO2 project, to help capture and store carbon in an aquifer under the English Channel, will help to store the equivalent amount of CO2 as taking five million petrol cars off the road would.

To get the CO2 to the aquifer, new pipelines will need to be laid from Fawley refinery, out to the Channel. Currently, three separate routes are being investigated with the hope of a preferred route being announced later this year.

Further information on the routes being considered can be found here. There is currently a non-statutory consultation taking place which seeks the public’s views on the three routes. We would therefore urge our members in the New Forest and on the Isle of Wight to look at the scheme’s website, review the routes, attend one of the many drop in consultation events taking place over the next few weeks, and then respond to the consultation ahead of the 12 September deadline.

Due to its scale, the scheme will be considered a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’ (NSIP), meaning ExxonMobil will ultimately apply to the Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO) to deliver the scheme.

The meeting with ExxonMobil provided an opportunity for the CLA to meet key personnel leading the project, and establish ongoing working relationships to ensure the CLA is able to engage with them on behalf of members.

The CLA team - Tim Bamford, Rosie Salt-Crockford and Lucy Charman - discussed at length the potential impact the proposals will have on landowners and farmers once a route is agreed on, and the concerns members are already raising.

It was agreed that once a route had been chosen/agreed upon, a meeting would be set up between the CLA and Solent CO2 project team for our affected members to help answer questions and concerns.

If members have any queries, please call or email Rosie on 01264 358195 / rosie.saltcrockford@cla.org.uk