asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will make a statement concerning the decision of the participant companies in the Whitegate oil refinery to reduce the octane content of premium petrol produced from 98 to 97.4 octane; if consultations with his Department had been held prior to this decision and the effect of the change on production costs and sanctioned price increases.
Written Answers. - Petrol Octane Content.
3.
Whilst there is no legal definition of different grades of petrol in this country, and oil companies are under no obligation to consult with my Department before making any changes in the octane rating of petrol sold by them, I would have expected that in a matter of this kind there would have been prior notice to or consultation with my Department.
The oil companies have since explained to my Department that the purpose of the change was to make more petrol available from the barrel of crude and so increase the amounts of petrol that could be put on the Irish market. I am informed that similar action was taken by the British companies in regard to their four star petrol which hitherto had been produced with an octane rating of 98, but which has now been reduced to a rating of 97.4 for the same reasons.
The effects of the change on production costs are not yet known but they will be taken into account by the Prices Commission on the occasion of the next review of oil prices.