Grangemouth refinery staff receive redundancy letters as closure looms
Grangemouth refinery staff receive redundancy letters as closure looms
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Redundancy letters have been sent to staff at the Grangemouth refinery as closure looms, the PA news agency understands. It was announced last year that the central Scotland facility would close and transition into being an import terminal as owners Petroineos reported massive losses. The shift is expected to result in the loss of as many as 500 jobs, and redundancy letters have begun being handed to staff.
It is understood only a small number of redundancies are mandatory. Just last week the UK Government announced the expansion of Heathrow and said that sustainable air fuel (SAF) will be needed. Well, Grangemouth can produce SAF - where is the joined up thinking?. Sharon Graham, general secretary of trade union Unite, said the closure is a “national disgrace” and a “needless act of industrial vandalism”.
She said: “There is a clear plan for the future of Grangemouth in place. Yet the UK and Scottish governments are missing in action.”. She claimed Grangemouth could be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel. “Just last week the UK Government announced the expansion of Heathrow and said that sustainable air fuel (SAF) will be needed. Well, Grangemouth can produce SAF – where is the joined up thinking?” she said.
“This the moment for the Government to lead and stand up to Petroineos in the national interest. Petroineos must allow the transition to SAF and biofuels. “If the company refuses, the Government should be the investor of first resort. There will be 3,500% increase in SAF demand. The market is there. “Today’s announcement will not deter us. We will fight for the future of the refinery and the associated jobs.”.
A spokesman for Petroineos said: “From Q2 this year, Grangemouth will be ready to operate as a national fuel distribution hub that ensures Scotland’s supply of finished fuels is protected. “The process of safely transitioning the site from a refinery into an import terminal is under way and will continue over a number of months. “Fully winding down and dismantling the refinery is anticipated to take around five years in total, so the new terminal business will operate in parallel with this process.”.
