Statoil has bought three service stations and a greenfield site from Primo Oil. It is thought to have paid two Dublin businessmen in the region of £9 million (€11.4 million).

Other large petrol retailers expressed interest in acquiring the Primo chain, controlled by Mr Jim Cummins and Mr Michael Hayden.

It has outlets on the Greenhills Road, the Square Shopping Centre in Tallaght and Taylor's Lane in Ballyboden. The site acquired by Statoil is also located in Tallaght. Statoil owns about 100 service stations. An additional 200 Statoil outlets are owned by independent operators.