Grangemouth refinery staff receive redundancy letters as closure looms

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “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.” Scottish Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described the news as “deeply regrettable”, adding: “The Scottish Government believes that refining at Grangemouth should continue, and a premature closure of the refinery is fundamentally short-sighted and detrimental to the transition to net zero. “Grangemouth refinery has been a cornerstone of the country’s industrial economy and the Government should have stepped in to manage its transition with strategic investment that could have allowed it to play a leading role in the UK’s clean energy transition.” Local SNP MSP Michelle Thomson said she was “shocked and angry”. “Scotland deserves better; what is happening in Grangemouth is a warning sign for the lack of Government support for the just transition in Scotland.” A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We know this is a concerning time for workers and their families, and we are leaving no stone unturned to find a viable long-term future for Grangemouth. We are jointly funding Project Willow with £1.5 million, which is urgently engaging with trade unions and developing options for a sustainable industrial future at the site Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson “Within weeks, we worked with the Scottish Government to put together an unprecedented £100 milion package to support the community and invest in the local workforce, along with tailored support to secure good, alternative jobs.