asked the Minister for Energy if the one million barrels of oil which was held at the Whiddy Oil Terminal for years as part of our national oil reserves has been replaced on Irish soil; if so, when and where it is held; and the number of days supply which is now held within our national territory.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Oil Reserves.
18.
As I stated in reply to a parliamentary question on 11 June 1985, the stocks at Whiddy were maintained under an agreement on which serious doubts as to enforceability existed, the arrangements relating to them were, in fact, unilaterally terminated by Gulf in 1978.
At present, 160,000 barrels of crude are held at the Whiddy Oil Terminal; the question of replacement of the oil which has been removed is under consideration in my Department. Stocks held within the national territory at present amount to 59 days.
How much short of his EC obligation is the Minister in holding only reserves for 59 days?
We are not much short, only a number of days, in relation to our EC obligations, and it is my intention, when consideration of alternative methods arises, to bring up our reserve stocks to EC requirements. I am awaiting a report in the Department. It is being worked on at present and when it is at hand I will attend to fulfilling our commitments under EC directives. I have been in correspondence with the appropriate EC Commissioners, and I have given assurances that we will be taking action.
Did the Minister release the oil from Whiddy first without having prior arrangements for replacement storage for emergency situations, either here or elsewhere? Did the Minister allow the oil to be released from Whiddy, reducing our national oil reserves, leaving us open to face an emergency at any time in view of the unsettled position that exists in the world today?
I am satisfied that with the reserves at present available to us and through the steps that will be taken, we will not be vulnerable to the sort of situation the Deputy is describing. The position is quite the opposite at present. Steps will be taken to bring up our reserves as required by the EC.
How many days short are we in our reserves?
About 15 days at present.
What is our obligation?
Eighty days.
What plans has the Minister to bring our reserves up to our obligations? Where does he intend to store those reserves — in Ireland or abroad?
The obvious thing is to increase the obligation on importing oil companies to have the cover. That can be done in discussions with the oil companies.