Vol. 409 No. 3
17 Mr. McCartan asked the Minister for Energy if he has any plans for an expanded role for the Irish National Petroleum Corporation either in relation to direct involvement in exploration or in retailing; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
INPC operations encompass the purchase and refining of crude oil, the supply of 35 per cent of Irish market requirements of petrol and gas oil to the distribution companies, and associated trading of intermediate and final petroleum products. There are, at present, no plans for an expanded role for the corporation in the areas of exploration or retailing.
I understand that at present the refinery have full powers to engage in refining and to engage in distribution themselves. Will the Minister confirm if this is so?
That is so, but we do not see any need for it at present.
If the Minister and the company are retaining the option, in the case of difficulties in pricing or in supply in the present distribution companies, will the Irish National Petroleum Company be prepared to engage in direct distribution?
The Minister has discretion to permit the INPC to become involved in the retail distribution of petroleum products and exploration. However, I do not see any prospect of that at present unless any of the companies to whom we are speaking in regard to upgrading Whitegate are interested in retailing as part of the deal. In that way it is possible that the INPC may become involved, if there was a joint venture with INPC participation and if part of the commercial activities of the company was the distribution of petrol.
Has the Minister extended an open invitation to any company in relation to a joint venture or, possibly, to take over Whitegate?
I indicated to the House on a number of occasions that discussions have been underway with a number of different companies. Since I came into the Department in July 1989 a number of different companies have entered into discussions with the Department. At any particular time one or more companies have been actively discussing the matter with the Department and there are ongoing discussions at present with two interested parties.
