Forties Pipeline to Resume Production

Scotland's Grangemouth refinery has reopened following a 48-hour strike by workers, allowing the restoration of North Sea oil supplies through the Forties pipeline, refinery owner Ineos has announced.

The strike has caused fuel shortages in Scotland, promoting emergency fuel shipments from Europe to suppliers.

Grangemouth supplies power and steam to the Forties crude processing plant at Kinneil, but supplies were cut during the strike forcing the closure of the whole Forties system.

The Forties pipeline system carries up to half of the UK's oil production, carrying about 700,000 barrels a day of crude oil.

Ineos says it could take up to three weeks to get back to full capacity.

The closure contributed to oil prices hitting near to $120 a barrel yesterday, writes Reuters, a new record for progressively rising prices.

By staff writer