SPIRIT ENERGY has lodged plans to keep a temporary compound at the onshore gas terminals in Barrow until 2030 to ensure a ‘safe wind down’ of operations.

The energy company has submitted an application to Westmorland and Furness Council to allow the temporary construction compound to operate at the north terminal until December 31, 2029.

The temporary construction compound currently has permission to operate at the site until December 31, 2024.

Planning documents state: “An extension to the duration of the temporary compound on-site is needed to support ongoing and upcoming projects at the site.”

According to a cover letter submitted with the application the compound plays a ‘vital role’ in supporting decommissioning projects and the removal of obsolete equipment, including the onshore gas terminals.

The cover letter adds having an office base in the compound is ‘essential’ as it allows staff to have easy access to the site when needed.

Planning documents state: “The anticipated end of life for operating the site is around 2029/2030 (subject to change). Having a temporary compound on-site for the duration of the project will ensure a safe wind-down of operations.

“Once all works at the site are completed, the temporary construction compound will be dismantled and removed, and the land will be reinstated to its original condition.”

Spirit Energy also has plans to turn the Rampside Gas Terminals and gas fields into a carbon storage cluster in what is estimated to generate a £1.8 billion boost for the economy by 2050 – and support thousands of jobs.

The company says it has partnered with a group of cement and lime producers in the Peak District to permanently store close to four million tonnes of industrial carbon dioxide emissions in the Morecambe Net Zero (MNZ) carbon store each year from 2030.

Former MP for Barrow and Furness, Simon Fell, previously said: “This partnership between Spirit Energy and the Peak Cluster is a real win/win. It is funded by these businesses at risk and would offer huge economic and environmental benefits to the region if given the green light.”

According to the report rather than natural gas being extracted from the Morecambe Bay Gas Fields, 4 million tonnes of industrial CO 2 emissions from Peak Cluster will be stored in MNZ each year from 2030.

Mr Fell added: “The project is so exciting – and not just because Barrow is at the heart of it – but because it offers the opportunity to create and safeguard over 13,000 jobs, decarbonise 40% of the UK’s cement and lime industry, and would utilise the gas fields under Morecambe Bay to store over a gigaton of carbon emissions.”

The application for the continued use of the temporary compound is under public consultation.