Fianna Fáil General Election Candidate for Louth and Meath East Alison Comyn and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Dara Calleary, have welcomed confirmation that Premier Periclase Limited has submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of its Drogheda manufacturing site. 

Calleary, the Minister of State with responsibility for Trade Promotion, Digital Transformation and Company Regulation, said the redevelopment, which will transform the site into a mixed-use, sustainably powered enterprise campus, is a welcome investment into Drogheda involving as it does an investment of up to €1 billion over the next 10 years and creating 50 jobs in the first phase with the potential to create several hundred more over subsequent phases. 

Speaking during his visit to the site of the proposed campus with local General Election Candidate Alison Comyn, he said: “This is an extremely exciting development as it can pave the way for a net-zero emissions model that could change how large energy users operate in Ireland. 

“The planned pathway to net-zero business campus involves an investment of between €600 million and €1 billion over the next ten years. This investment, planned to facilitate and manage flexible and renewable energy in for the national grid, is an exciting prospect as it can potentially pave the way for a net-zero industrial campus emissions model that can change how large energy users operate in Ireland.” 

The redevelopment plan includes demolition and site remediation works, substantial upgrades to the Premier Periclase site infrastructure, and the integration of renewable energy sources, flexible generation and advanced energy storage systems on the new Core campus. 

Subject to planning, the first phase of development will focus on installing sustainable energy infrastructure and a 32MW data centre. Over time, the site will grow to accommodate a range of high-tech industries, including biopharma, food, beverage, and sustainable manufacturing.

The site’s decarbonisation and development focus will make the campus extremely attractive to large foreign direct investment and Irish projects. 

Alison Comyn, speaking during the Minister’s visit to the campus, said: “I was delighted to be able to show Minister Calleary firsthand the plans for this massive investment opportunity, and show him what this industrial campus for large energy users has to offer, on the banks of the Boyne.  

“This will be a huge vote of confidence for the area, and shows we have the ability to deliver not just a national centre for sustainable industry, but a global centre for energy regeneration.”