Vol. 454 No. 7
43 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications when it is proposed to abandon the compulsory off-take requirement by oil companies of Whitegate produce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11383/95]
I refer the Deputy to the reply given to Question No. 26 on 29 March 1995. Under the Fuels (Petroleum Oils) Order, 1982 importers of petrol, gas oil and LPG are required to purchase up to 35 per cent of their requirements from the Whitegate refinery. The decision to end the mandatory purchase requirement at the end of 1996 was taken in the context of the Government response to the Culliton and Moriarty reports.
In order to enable the refinery to trade on a fully competitive basis, the Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd. is implementing a three-year programme of investment which will continue up to 1996. The results of this programme, allied to a number of marketing initiatives, is expected by the company to enable the refinery to operate on a commercial basis at open market prices when the mandatory regime ends.
