Siptu urges Whitegate sale caution

The Government has been called on to investigate the possibility of intervening in the proposed sale of the country’s only oil refinery at Whitegate, Cork.

The country’s largest trade union, Siptu, said the facility was strategically important to maintaining national oil reserves.

The American owners of the plant, Philips 66, have appointed Deutsche Bank to market and sell the refinery, which it has said is neither sophisticated nor competitive.

It hopes to offload the asset by the end of 2013.

Siptu said it plans to meet the management of Whitegate Oil Refinery and Bantry Oil Storage Terminal later this month to discuss the sales.

The organiser of Siptu’s services division, John King, said it wants to protect jobs while the facility changes hands. He also said the Government needed to keep a close eye on the process because of the importance of Whitegate to the country’s energy security.

“Siptu is also calling upon the Government to investigate the possibility of intervention in this matter due to the strategic importance of the facilities,” said Mr King.

“The Whitegate facility is the only oil refinery in Ireland and both facilities [in east Cork and Bantry] are key to the maintenance of the State’s national oil reserves.”

Separately the National Oil Reserve Agency has been investing in increasing the island’s capacity for storing fuels by more than 300,000 tonnes.

This has included investing in facilities at Antrim, Dublin, and Tarbert, Kerry.

However, a third of the country’s transport fuels are still refined at Whitegate.

This year, Philips 66 said the 53-year-old plant was too small and outdated to compete at European level.

The plan to sell Whitegate, and its sister terminal in Bantry, will affect more than 180 employes.

A further 100 contractors are employed on and off.

Jerry Browne of Siptu said the businesses were significant employers and everything should be done to protect jobs.

“They play a vital role in the economic life of the area and their future is a key concern for the workers and the wider community,” said Mr Browne.