Vol. 404 No. 4
61 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Energy the reason Whiddy Island has 78 per cent capacity unfilled; if these reasons are in accordance with the information contained in a document issued by his Department entitled Investment in Irish Oil Facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
69 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Energy the capacity of the oil tank farm at Whiddy Island, County Cork; the amount of oil therein at present; the reason full use has not been made of existing capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
79 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Energy the capacity for oil storage at (a) Whitegate and (b) Whiddy; and the percentage in each case which is being utilised at present.
80 Mr. Taylor asked the Minister for Energy the extent and the way in which operating stocks at Whitegate can be removed without replenishment from fresh stocks, without impairing the operating efficiency of the refinery or curtailing refining operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 69, 79 and 80 together. The oil storage terminal at Whiddy Island consists of 12 crude oil storage tanks with a capacity of 958,000 tonnes, and seven other tanks with a capacity of 170,000 tonnes.
Following the stand-off in the Gulf, the terminal was reactivated and 205,000 tonnes of crude were put into storage in three of the tanks. This comprises approximately 22 per cent of crude oil storage at the terminal. Subsequently, two further tanks were prepared and can be bought into immediate use should the need arise. However, with the existing oil market well supplied no additional storage is considered necessary at present.
Total storage capacity at the Whitegate refinery is 350,000 tonnes. The amount held varies from day to day and week to week for operational reasons. Yesterday evening, for example, the refinery had 196,000 tonnes of oil in total, approximately 56 per cent of capacity. In a situation where no additional supplies were available to the refinery it could operate until all of its crude stocks were refined. Normal operating practice, of course, is to have stock replaced well in advance of it being required.
