Keep oil refinery working, says Unite

There is a growing belief that the life of the Petroineos oil refinery in Grangemouth, Scotland can be extended, the Unite union said ahead of a worker-led march and rally to “extend, invest, and transition to protect jobs at the refinery site”.

Its Keep Grangemouth Working campaign — in support of 500 refinery workers, thousands more dependent upon it in the supply chain, and the wider Grangemouth community — is fighting for the refinery’s life to be extended and to secure commensurate jobs in new low carbon projects at the plant.

The Grangemouth complex contributes 4% of Scottish GDP and around 8% of Scotland’s manufacturing base, the union reported.

Unite says there have been “positive steps” following high-level talks with the new Labour government, including joint government funding of £1.6 million for the Project Willow initiative on the future of Grangemouth. This will explore low carbon projects at the refinery.

The King’s speech also included a Bill to support sustainable aviation fuel production and Unite wants an exploration of how this could be developed at Grangemouth.

“There has been a sea change in government attitude both at Holyrood and Westminster over the refinery’s future,” said Unite Scottish secretary Derek Thomson. “Grangemouth is one of the greatest tests the just transition process will ever face in Scotland.

“We need to get this right for the workers based at the refinery, and the thousands more dependent upon it in the wider supply chain and Grangemouth community.”