Vol. 380 No. 7
asked the Minister for Energy if an exclusive option to negotiate on a deal in either the Whitegate Oil Refinery and the Whiddy Oil Terminal, County Cork, has been given to the Nigerian Government or to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as their agent.
87.
asked the Minister for Energy if it is true that the Irish Government are not in direct negotiations with the Nigerian Government or the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in matters relating to Whiddy Island and Whitegate Oil Refinery, County Cork; if so, the name of the company with whom the Irish National Petroleum Company is in negotiation; and the expertise which this company has in the oil industry.
88.
asked the Minister for Energy the reason a decision on the Whiddy and Whitegate negotiations has not been made as he promised in December 1987 that such a decision would be announced within weeks.
89.
asked the Minister for Energy if any other oil interests, either producer or dealer, have indicated an interest in either Whitegate or Whiddy, County Cork; and, if so, the present stage of negotiations with these companies.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 to 89 inclusive, together.
The House is aware that discussions are taking place with a group representing the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on a possible package concerning the future use of the Whitegate oil refinery and the Whiddy Island oil terminal. Direct discussions have not taken place with the Nigerian Government or the NNPC. The discussions which have taken place have been with Industrial Consultants International Ltd. (ICIL) which was appointed by NNPC to negotiate on its behalf and with Citicorp. Both of these companies have long experience of trading in Nigeria.
It would clearly not be in the national interest to disclose the extent of the interest in these facilities by other parties and I do not propose to do so. At the specific written request of the Nigerian oil Minister I agreed to put a temporary reserve on the facilities pending the completion of certain studies by NNPC but the period covered by this reserve has now expired.
A definitive project proposal on behalf of NNPC was received by me on 2 May 1988 and it is my intention that a decision will be reached in the near future.
