The Government has granted consent for Shell to begin operating the Corrib Gas pipeline in Mayo.
The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White issued a statement this evening which states that the consent is subject to 20 conditions relating to environmental management, operation, control and monitoring.
The offshore gas field was first discovered back in 1996 and development of the project began in 2004, however a final route for the pipeline was only approved in 2011 and construction was completed last year.
The project is expected to provide 42% of the all-island gas demand over its first two years of operation.