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PLANS to close Scotland’s only oil and gas refinery at Grangemouth were branded “an act of industrial vandalism” by Unite today.
Bosses at Petroineos confirmed today that the refinery will close in the second quarter of 2025, with the loss of 400 jobs.
The company had first announced the plans to transition the site to an import-only terminal for fuels in November last year.
But workers and their union Unite had led a campaign for Scottish and UK government action to retool the site instead. Suggested options included production of sustainable aviation fuel to make best use of workers’ skills as part of a planned transition away from fossil fuels.
Speaking at First Ministers Questions, John Swinney warned the closure of the complex, which amounts to 8 per cent of Scotland’s manufacturing capacity and 4 per cent of Scottish GDP, would cause “significant economic shock.”
He also announced a joint UK and Scottish government support package of £100 million for the people of Grangemouth.
The UK Labour government’s Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband pledged to “stand with the workforce in these difficult times.”
And Brian Leishman, Grangemouth’s Labour MP, told the Commons: “What happened to the miners cannot be the fate of the Grangemouth refinery workers.
“I have stood in solidarity with the refinery workers and will continue to do so.
“Energy security is intrinsically linked to national security and for both to be in the hands of a foreign capital is inherently wrong, not to mention, utterly reckless.”
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “Where is the change workers voted for just a few months ago?
“Those who presided over this catastrophic failure of our movement and our industry won’t be forgiven.
“It will be left to those who are willing — Unite the Union and our wider trade union movement – to fight on for Grangemouth.
“We will do so without fear or favour.”
Branding the decision “an act of industrial vandalism,” Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “This is now the last chance for this Labour government to show whether it’s really on the side of workers and communities.
“The road to net zero cannot be paid for with workers’ jobs.
“This is yet another example of workers paying for a crisis they did not create while billionaire owners laugh all the way to the bank.”
