Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:67 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will give details of oil reserves held within the State; and the contingency plans, if any, in place to cover the possibility of emergency shortages. [4717/98]
Vol. 487 No. 6
67 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if she will give details of oil reserves held within the State; and the contingency plans, if any, in place to cover the possibility of emergency shortages. [4717/98]
Ireland, a member of both the International Energy Agency, IEA, and the European Union, is obliged to maintain a minimum of 90 days oil stocks against the possibility of disruption of oil markets. In December 1997, the latest date for which comprehensive figures are available, total stocks held amounted to 1,760,000 tonnes which is equivalent to 110 days. Of this total, 1,282,000, 80 days were held in Ireland with the balance held abroad. The stockholding held in Ireland is composed of operational, refinery and strategic stocks as follows:
tonnes |
days |
|
Operational stocks of oil companies and major consumers |
564,000 |
35 |
Whitegate refinery stocks |
455,000 |
28 |
Strategic stocks in Ireland |
263,000 |
17 |
Total |
1,282,000 |
80 |