British National Oil Corporation (Petrochemical Facilities)

HC Deb 22 July 1976 vol 915 cc581-2W

Mr. Skeet

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) whether he proposes to use ethane from the North Sea as feedstock for petrochemical facilities of the BNOC;

(2) whether he is considering authorising the BNOC to participate in petro- chemical facilities likely to be established in the vicinity of the proposed Nigg refinery;

(3) whether he is having talks with the British Petroleum Company Limited over BNOCs participation in petrochemical facilities at Grangemouth;

(4) in authorising BNOC to diversify downstream, whether it is his policy to commend expansion into refining and marketing before entry into petrochemicals.

Dr. J. Dickson Mabon

It remains Her Majesty's Government's policy that the BNOC shall in due course develop into a fully integrated oil company. It is too soon to determine the timing and character of such development.