Moneypoint - the country’s largest power station - stopped burning coal in June 2025 and, under current plans, will close altogether in 2029. This decision has made Ireland’s energy insecurity even worse than it already was. Recent events in the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted this exposure and the decision to close Moneypoint needs to be reversed. If it is not too late, Moneypoint’s coal handling equipment and large coal yard should be brought back into operation to have the station available to operate as a last resort with the potential to run at full capacity for up to 90 days. If this is not possible, then two additional Heavy Fuel Oil tanks – for which planning permission has been secured – should be constructed to double Moneypoint’s Heavy Fuel Oil storage capacity to permit operation for up to 22 days. The planned closure in 2029 should be postponed to 2036 to provide strategic energy storage for the electricity system for 10 years while a significantly larger LNG facility than is currently proposed in the State-led Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve project is developed elsewhere. Notwithstanding that this would increase GHG emissions beyond what they otherwise would be, the impact would be relatively small and, when balanced against the energy security objectives which national energy policy must deliver, it would be justified. Progress in replacing fossil fuels in transport and heating has been slow and the timescale to eliminate fossil fuels in electricity generation is indeterminable. Ireland will continue to have a significant dependence on fossil fuels until 2050 and, most likely, beyond. In the meantime, the reality of Ireland’s energy supply risk exposure must be recognised in policy and, where possible, mitigated. Press Release 08-05-2026