HC Deb 13 April 1978 vol 947 cc467-8W
Mr. Gordon Wilson

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the North Cormorant platform support structure contract to be allocated;

of its own crude oil derived from the Thistle field in the North Sea; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Mabon

It is a condition of all North Sea production licences that the crude oil produced shall be delivered on shore in the United Kingdom unless my right hon. Friend gives written consent to delivery elsewhere. There is no statutory restriction on subsequent export. Pending completion of a pipeline to Sullom Voe, Thistle oil is being loaded into tankers offshore and can therefore, subject to my right hon. Friend's consent, be delivered overseas direct from the field. My Department is currently discussing with Deminex its disposal plans for the immediate future and my right hon. Friend has already agreed that its first cargo may be delivered direct to West Germany.