The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ireland said it will prosecute oil major Shell E&P Ireland over an alleged breach of its emission licence at the Corrib gas refinery in Mayo.
The move comes after an investigation was launched earlier this year.
According to reports in the Irish Times, a summons was issued by the EPA late last week.
The prosecution relates to the EPA’s six-month investigation into a flaring incident at refinery on New Year’s Eve.
At the time, residents had described the incident, which lasted between 30 and 40 minutes as “frightening”.
The flaring had taken place only two days after final operating consent for the project was issued by the at the time energy minister Alex White.
At the time, Shell had acknowledged the flaring had been “exceptional” and had promised to “take all measures” to minimise further occurrences.
Shell E&P Ireland confirmed it had received a legal summons from the EPA “alleging breaches of our industrial emissions licence”.
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