161 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the current status of the £26 million upgrading programme being undertaken at Whitegate oil refinery, County Cork; if it has advanced to the stage where the refinery will be in a position to operate on a commercial basis at open market prices from the end of 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18823/95]

In 1993, in the context of the Culliton/Moriarty reports, the Government announced that the mandatory off take regime at the Whitegate Oil Refinery should terminate at the end of 1996. In response to the Government decision, the Irish National Petroleum Corporation prepared a commercialisation and development plan which was approved in December 1993.