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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 9 Dec 1976

Vol. 295 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Refinery Capacity.

17.

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if there are any proposals before his Department to increase this country's refining capacity.

There are no such proposals before my Department at present.

Are there inquiries or reports in connection with the establishment of an oil refinery on the south west coast, for example?

My understanding is that currently there are not. Of course, up to the time of the outbreak of the oil crisis there were a large number. We were then an attractive location for people to move product which was in surplus on world markets in, refine it and move it on somewhere else. There were a number of such inquiries. I am not aware of any current proposals. If there are investigations at the level of preliminary inquiries, I am not so aware but I can find out. In existing circumstances I would be surprised if there were any inquiries because people will either await the outcome of our drilling programme, particularly next year and the years to come, before committing themselves. It very much revolves around what comes up from next year's drill.

I do not wish to be too specific because I would not wish to prejudice any efforts or enterprise now under way but I should like to know if the Minister was presented in recent weeks or months with a feasibility study with a view to the establishment of a refinery in Bantry Bay in the light of certain installations becoming available at a reasonable rate? I can give the Minister further particulars if that is not sufficient indication to him what I have in mind.

I am now aware of what the Deputy has in mind but I am not familiar with an application in this regard. I can find out. It might be that I should not be any more explicit than that but if the Deputy wishes he can raise the matter with me directly or by way of another question. In that event, I will deal with the matter as best I can. At present I do not have any information of that kind at a level that is any sort of formal document.

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