SONI (System Operator for Northern Ireland) welcomes today’s decision by the Irish Supreme Court to uphold planning approval for the southern section of the North South Interconnector.

Planning approval for the project was granted by An Bord Pleanála in December 2016. The approval faced a number of legal challenges, resulting in today’s decision by the Supreme Court in Dublin.

This decision draws the legal process to a close in the Republic of Ireland.

The North South Interconnector is a critical electricity grid development project which will link the grids between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, providing security of supply, supporting decarbonisation and reducing the cost of wholesale electricity for consumers.

Robin McCormick, General Manager, SONI said:

“The North South Interconnector is the most important infrastructure project on the island today. It will help deliver real benefits to domestic and commercial electricity consumers and will make a significant contribution to helping Northern Ireland achieve its climate change commitments.

“We are pleased that the project has now cleared all of the planning and legal hurdles in the Republic of Ireland and we are hopeful that the same can be achieved in Northern Ireland in the coming months.”