On Air Manx Radio Update Andy Wint | 5:30pm - 6:00pm

Reassurances over Island oil

There are reassurances oil supplies to the Isle of Man will NOT be hit when workers at Grangemouth refinery in Scotland go on strike today (Sunday).

The Island's fuel companies are supplied by refineries in England and Wales - which hold more than two months of reserves.

Meanwhile, north of the border, there are fresh calls for motorists not to panic buy.

Marian Kenny reports (audio file attached):

Days before Sunday's strike. there were queues at petrol stations across Scotland.

Could any shortage affect shipments to the Island?

The answer - according to Total's general manager Luke Hodgson - an emphatic NO

He says the supply chain to the Isle of Man is completely independent of Grangemouth - there are nine refineries in Britain, and at any one time, it's normal for one or two to be out of action for a variety of reasons.

Total's oil is supplied from a refinery in Wales - Shell's from the west of england.

Mr Hodgson describes the shut down at Grangemouth as a 'minor matter' - the depots have up to 70 days stock of refined products he says, in which the coming strike will only make a minor indent.

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