AQO 1980/22-27

Mr John Stewart
Ulster Unionist Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 01/05/2025
Answered On Date: 13/05/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy whether Northern Ireland has security of supply in terms of import facilities for oil and gas.

Answer:

The North is served by three oil terminals - Puma and Valero in Belfast, and LSS in Derry. All three terminals are supplied by individual access points. Oil and Petroleum are sourced through international trading markets using a diverse range of providers. Officials from my Department regularly engage with the oil industry and on an annual basis undertake winter preparedness checks to assess fuel stocks and availability.

Natural gas is supplied through the SNIP gas pipeline from Scotland. The North also has gas interconnection with the South through the South-North gas pipeline. This pipeline would be used to supplement gas flow to the North in peak demand events.

All of the North’s natural gas is supplied from Britian and my officials regularly engage with counterparts in Britian on gas storage and security of supply. During winter 2024/25, Britian’s gas stocks and storage were extremely healthy.

My Department meets regularly with the gas transmission operator, Mutual Energy, and also participates in an annual gas emergency exercise that tests the resilience of the network through the application of emergency procedures and co-ordinated plans. These exercises are continuously reviewed to ensure best practice procedures.