Forties pipeline will be shut down tonight

THE pipeline that delivers 30% of the UK's daily oil output will be shut down overnight, BP said today.

BP's Forties Pipeline will be completely shut by 6am on Sunday as a two-day strike by workers at the Grangemouth oil refinery begins.
The pipeline, which brings in 700,000 barrels of oil a day from the North Sea, is powered from the Grangemouth site.

A BP spokeswoman said: "We've been advised by INEOS that they can continue to provide steam and power right up until 6am when the strike begins, which means that we expect that the pipeline will be shut down overnight.

"It will be completely shut down by 6am on Sunday."

Oil giant BP began making preparations to close down the pipeline on Friday.

The move – which could cost an estimated £50 million a day in lost production – comes as 1,200 workers prepare to walk out on Sunday.

The strike at the plant in Stirlingshire looks set to go ahead after operators Ineos and union Unite failed to resolve a dispute over pensions.

The 1,700-acre site, Scotland's main fuel supplier, was shut down yesterday as it prepared for the 48-hour action.

Government leaders have urged motorists not to panic-buy petrol and diesel.

They have sought to reassure drivers over fuel supplies but warned against filling up their tanks unnecessarily.

There have already been reports of shortages and queues at some forecourts.

Business Secretary John Hutton said: "There is plenty of petrol and diesel in Scotland to meet demand during this period of time.

"But of course there is going to be a challenge if people change the way that they consume fuel."

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he added: "There is every reason believe that we will get through this period sensibly if people continue to buy fuel sensibly, too."

Mr Hutton said a national emergency plan had been drawn up since the 2000 fuel protests.

But that would only be triggered by a shortage of supplies, which would not be the case for "a significant period of time".

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "One of the most important messages to give is that people should not change their normal fuel buying patterns.

"We urge the people of Scotland to be sensible and only to buy the fuel that they need.

"We encourage people to make the journeys they require to and to use public transport."

Pat Watters, of the AA motoring organisation, said: "People should accept that they will probably be rationed to an amount of petrol to conserve supplies.

"I think there will be some difficulties despite the assurances.
"People should not be buying petrol in case they might need it, they should stick to their normal habits."

Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said: "The price of oil is going in only one direction and that's upwards and fast. For ecomomic reasons we need to start weaning ourselves off our dependancy on oil.

"The Government must redouble its efforts to fund the development of cars powered by electricity and hydrogen cells.

"Sadly, the Government has allowed its future vehicle strategy to wither on the vine."