Practical Completion has been reached on the conversion of an existing ESB bulk fuel storage facility (circa 140,000m3 storage) on the Poolbeg peninsula into the latest oil storage terminal for NORA.

The National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) is responsible for ensuring that Ireland meets its obligations under EU Legislation and International Energy Agency (IEA) rules to maintain a minimum of 90 days stock of oil for use in the event of a physical shortage of supplies. NORA is also responsible for administering Ireland’s Biofuels Obligation Scheme.

Brendan Merry & Partners teamed up with Emmet Finnegan from Doherty Finnegan Kelly Civil & Structural Engineers and Project Design Engineers (Engineering Design Consultants) from Belfast.

The main civil engineering portion of the works involved forming new concrete slab, baffle walls, tertiary walls and all associated waterstops, hydrophilic strips, etc. for Bund 1 (over 2,500m2) and similar to Bund 2 and Bund 3. The construction of a new Control Room, Fire Control Station, Gantry Loading Area, Culverts 1 and 2, Yard Spill Area, Pump Pad, roads, paths and paving, main foul and surface water drainage, fire fighting main and watermain and all associated signage and landscaping.

This was a great project to be involved in and opened up an insight into many construction techniques not commonly encountered on standard building projects. After a long and protracted road for our Client it was fantastic to see the project come to a successful completion and they await the imminent arrival of the first shipment of kerosene and diesel.