Concerns for Whitegate: Oil refinery’s uncertain future

THE continuing uncertainty over the operation of Ireland’s only oil refinery, at Whitegate in Cork Harbour, could have serious implications for the State’s energy supplies and consequently for our economy.

Whitegate is a strategic asset, processes 71,000 barrels of oil per day, and provides one third of all our transportation fuel. It is a long-term principal supplier to the National Oil Reserves Agency.

An assessment of the refinery was undertaken in 2013 by the Department of Communications, Energy, and Natural Resources. The study noted that overall oil demand has declined since peaking at 11.8m tonnes in 2006 and did not foresee it returning to the peak levels seen a decade ago.