Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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596. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources how he will enhance the security of Irish energy supplies, given the central role provided by Whitegate Oil Refinery, if he has examined proposals put forward to enable the Government attain European Union 2020 renewable targets on biofuels and yield-improvement projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44686/15]

Alex White (Dublin South, Labour)
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The owners of the refinery, Phillips 66, advised my Department in October that they were putting the Whitegate refinery up for sale. 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.

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 have recently met a number of my Cabinet colleagues to discuss the refinery and I updated Government on the matter last week.

The Corrib Gas Field Development has a strategic benefit for Ireland in terms of strengthening Ireland’s energy security of supply and it will meet on average 42% of the all island gas demand over its first two years of operation.

The 2009 Renewable Energy Directive sets all Member States a binding target that at least 10% of the energy used in the transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Ireland aims to meet this target mainly through the use of sustainable biofuels with electric vehicles also making a contribution.

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in July 2010 and obliges the road transport fuel industry to ensure that a certain amount of the fuel placed on the Irish market is biofuel. The scheme also offers increased incentives for biofuels produced from waste materials and residues. I understand the refinery owners have been considering the potential for Whitegate to operate as a biorefinery. As a private entity, such an investment project is a matter for the owners. The increasing requirement for biofuels to meet Ireland's 2020 target can afford opportunities for indigenous producers, including the refinery, particularly those which produce biofuels from wastes and residues.