Carbon tax. There's your problem. Haha
Oil Refineries in Ireland and the UK - April 2026
Ireland
Number of operational oil refineries: 1
This is the Whitegate Refinery (operated by Irving Oil) in County Cork. It has a capacity of around 75,000 barrels per day and supplies roughly 25–40% of Ireland’s fuel needs. Ireland imports the majority of its refined petroleum products.
No other oil refineries exist in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.
United Kingdom (entire UK)
Number of operational oil refineries: 4 major refineries
These are:
There may be one or two very small/minor facilities, but the industry is described as having four main operational sites. This is down from 6 in recent years and far below the historical peak of around 18 in the 1970s.
In the UK, two refineries closed in 2025:
Primary reasons cited for these closures include:
The closures are heavily linked to the UK’s aggressive net-zero policies, carbon pricing, and the broader energy transition. Industry groups argue these green policies have made UK refining uncompetitive, leading to greater reliance on imported fuels.
The remaining four UK refineries are also under pressure from the same carbon taxes and policy environment, with warnings of potential further closures.