Beachgoers were shocked to see a giant pipe stretching across a beauty spot in north Wales.
The structure along Talacre beach in Flintshire was described as “an eyesore” and “awful”, while other Facebook users believed work on it had scared birds away from a “protected area”.
It was built as part of the Liverpool Bay Carbon Dioxide Transportation and Storage Project and will create a link to the Point of Ayr gas terminal around 0.7 miles (1.12km) away from the beach.
But engineering firm Eni was quick to allay fears, saying the visible structure is temporary, and when works finishes in a few months, it will mean cabling is buried underground.
A sign on the beach described the structures as a “pipeline welding highway”.
It is now strung along hundreds of metres down Talacre beach.
Visitors and locals were left confused, fearing it was a new permanent addition to the Flintshire coastline.
On Facebook, they discussed how it looks visually, and the effect it could have on the beach’s wildlife.
But is all part of the multi-billion-pound HyNet scheme.
Carbon emissions will be captured from industrial facilities in north Wales and north-west England and transported offshore using an existing pipeline.
The aim of capturing carbon in this way is to stop it escaping into the atmosphere and having a damaging effect.
The cables being buried under Talacre beach will help with the power and telecommunications to this.
“The structures currently visible on the shoreline at Talacre beach are temporary and essential for the construction phase,” said a spokesperson for engineering company Eni.
“There is no pipeline being installed as part of these works.
“Instead, a conduit to house the combined fibre optic and electrical cable will be installed underground.”
This will connect the New Douglas Offshore CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) Platform to the onshore grid at the Point of Ayr Terminal.
A natural gas pipeline is already in place between the two sites, but will be repurposed to transport CO2 from facilities in north Wales and north-west England.
The cabling beneath Talacre beach will provide power and telecommunications to the C02 storage site.
Installation started in February and is expected to continue until early April.
“All equipment, including temporary fencing, screens and signage, will be removed on completion of the works,” the spokesperson added.
“On the beach, the cable will be covered by sand and any remaining equipment will be removed. This means that there will be no visible infrastructure on the beach when construction is complete.”
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