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Defence privatisation, gawd 'elp us !!!!


KFC
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Last act before winding up the last government was to sell off the Government Pipeline and Storage System to the Spanish company Compania Logistica de Hidrocarburos for £82m.

 

This pipeline is the system which supplies oil and jet fuel to military airfields, Aldermarston Atomic Weapons Establishment, Heathrow and Gatwick. The government has been allowing it to run into disrepair for years.

 

But don't worry, the government has signed a ten year £237m contract to rent space in the now foreign privately-owned system so the RAF can still fly its aircraft, so that's alright then.

 

It was sneaked through on the end of the 2012 Energy Bill without time for debate.

 

(Information from Private Eye magazine issue 1392)

 

Good ole Dave, flog off the whole nation for a few bob then rent back everything he's flogged, that should help the deficit :good::/:hmm:

Edited by KFC
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It's a pipe line for gods sake. What do you suppose the Spanish are going to do with it apart from maintain it for a rental fee. They're not going to divert fuel to the Russian's in time of war are they. :hmm: I would be surprised if a private company specialising in this sort of thing couldn't do it cheaper than the MOD...they never do anything cheaply.

 

We can always nick it back if they get silly over Gibraltar :lol:

Edited by achosenman
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It's a pipe line for gods sake. What do you suppose the Spanish are going to do with it apart from maintain it for a rental fee. They're not going to divert fuel to the Russian's in time of war are they. :hmm: I would be surprised if a private company specialising in this sort of thing couldn't do it cheaper than the MOD...they never do anything cheaply.

 

We can always nick it back if they get silly over Gibraltar :lol:

:lol::lol:

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So why is it a bad thing?

 

It would be good to hear a reasoned argument and not just quoting snippets from Private Eye.

OK, some arguments against.

What's going to happen in times of tension or national crisis and what onus is on CLH to maintain the network in a safe condition?

Coryton oil refinery was closed by petroplus, a Dutch company when they went bust.

Iberdrola, who bought Scottish Power, have the worst record for customer service and they are closing Longannet.

What's to stop CLH from selling oil to anyone they fancy straight from pipe to tanker, including organised crime?

Maybe simply close it down and sell it for scrap then get the contract for shifting fuel round the country in tankers.

 

So let's hear some good points.

Edited by KFC
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OK, some arguments against.

What's going to happen in times of tension or national crisis and what onus is on CLH to maintain the network in a safe condition?

Coryton oil refinery was closed by petroplus, a Dutch company when they went bust.

Iberdrola, who bought Scottish Power, have the worst record for customer service and they are closing Longannet.

What's to stop CLH from selling oil to anyone they fancy straight from pipe to tanker, including organised crime?

 

So let's hear some good points.

All you have done is rehash stuff from private eye. I am not arguing it is a good thing, just intrigued as to why you think it is bad beyond just reading an article.

 

As for the obligations and commercial rights of CLH what are the terms of the contract, do you know?

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These government pipelines transfer fuel to keep the country going ie:whenever there are any crisis situations wether that be war ,acts of terrorisim,fuel strikes etc...

now given that right to foriegners does not sit right with me,what other depts have been sold off to foriegners without our knowledge, the country which was once GREAT BRITAIN is now sliced and diced.

 

I am totally shocked by these situations we are now a weak vunerable country relying on fuel and gas from europe, our once great armoured forces are being reduced, the navy and air force are reduced ...

 

when will it end.....................

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These government pipelines transfer fuel to keep the country going ie:whenever there are any crisis situations wether that be war ,acts of terrorisim,fuel strikes etc...

now given that right to foriegners does not sit right with me,what other depts have been sold off to foriegners without our knowledge, the country which was once GREAT BRITAIN is now sliced and diced.

 

I am totally shocked by these situations we are now a weak vunerable country relying on fuel and gas from europe, our once great armoured forces are being reduced, the navy and air force are reduced ...

 

when will it end.....................

It wasn't sold without knowledge, it has been on the UK Government website for years what the intention was. You might not be aware of it, but that is very different to it being sold without knowledge.

 

What percentage of GPSS is used for military use and what is commercial?

 

How many refineries do we have in the UK that produces aviation fuel and what contractual terms exist around those for exclusive supply in the event of crisis?

Edited by grrclark
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Coryton oil refinery was closed by petroplus, a Dutch company when they went bust

 

Should CLH go bust I'm pretty sure we would just take it back. After all it's buried under the UK. It's not like the Chinese are going to come and dig it up one night.

 

What's to stop CLH from selling oil to anyone they fancy straight from pipe to tanker, including organised crime?

 

Too much James Bond methinks. ;)

 

In times of tension things get changed. The GPS system we use for aircraft navigation is US. They can deny use any time they want. The Russian's have their own. The EU is playing catch-up. The Chinese are also in the game.

 

We maintain some vital capability in manufacturing, but the mundane stuff we can sub contract safely and save money doing it. It's not a vital skill that we lose as we might in some processes.

 

ATB

Edited by achosenman
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