Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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1120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is concerned that the Phillips 66 company has commenced a process to sell Whitegate Oil Refinery in Cork; the steps he is taking to ensure that we maintain a refining capacity on the island of Ireland, due to its strategic importance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38295/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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My Department is in regular contact with Phillips 66, the company operating the refinery at Whitegate, and officials have met recently with both management and union representatives. In the last year I have met with Irish and US executives of Phillips 66 and I visited the refinery in November 2014. My most recent engagement with union representatives was a fortnight ago.

In 2013 Phillips 66 placed the refinery and marketing business up for sale and subsequently withdrew it from that process in 2014. The company advised my Department last month that they are putting the refinery and marketing business back up for sale on the market. A refinery sale would be a commercial matter between Phillips 66 and a potential purchaser.

As this process is underway Whitegate will continue to be operated on a business as usual basis. My understanding from Whitegate management is that they are committed to honouring the 15 year agreement under the 2001 Sale and Purchase Agreement to keep the refinery operational until at least July 2016. That commitment is not affected by the planned sale.

The Government views the continued operation of the Whitegate refinery on a commercial basis as highly desirable from an energy security and economic perspective. Security of supply remains a fundamental tenet of our energy policy. I am in contact with my Ministerial colleagues to discuss the importance of continued operations at the facility.