Grangemouth refinery staff sent redundancy letters

Some workers astatine the Grangemouth refinery person been sent redundancy letters by their leader Petroineos.

The site, which is Scotland's lone lipid refinery, is acceptable to adjacent by the summertime with the nonaccomplishment of much than 400 jobs.

It is understood the bulk of workers person agreed voluntary redundancy deals, and occupation losses volition beryllium dispersed retired implicit the adjacent 18 months.

Union leaders had hoped that the cardinal Scotland installation could stay unfastened for longer to supply clip for a greener substance alternate to beryllium established astatine the site.

The Unite national said the determination was a "national disgrace" and accused the UK and Scottish governments of being "missing successful action" arsenic the closure takes effect.

Petroineos said the closure of Grangemouth was owed to it being incapable to vie with sites successful Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

The institution said the determination would "safeguard substance proviso for Scotland" by converting the tract into a terminal capable to import petrol, diesel, aviation substance and kerosene into Scotland.

The displacement is expected to support astir 65 of the astir 500 jobs connected the site.

Sharon Graham, wide caput of commercialized national Unite, said the closure was a "needless enactment of concern vandalism".

"There is simply a wide program for the aboriginal of Grangemouth successful place," she said. "Yet the UK and Scottish governments are missing successful action."

Ms Graham suggested Grangemouth could beryllium utilized to nutrient sustainable aviation fuel.

"Just past week the UK authorities announced the enlargement of Heathrow and said that sustainable aerial substance (SAF) volition beryllium needed," she said.

"Well, Grangemouth tin nutrient SAF - wherever is the joined up thinking?

"This the infinitesimal for the authorities to pb and basal up to Petroineos successful the nationalist interest. Petroineos indispensable let the modulation to SAF and biofuels."

Workers held a rally astatine the refinery past summertime successful protestation astatine the plans

The UK and Scottish governments person been approached for comment.

Petroineos said it expected the caller organisation hub for finished fuels to unfastened by aboriginal summer.

A spokesperson said: "The process of safely transitioning the tract from a refinery into an import terminal is nether mode and volition proceed implicit a fig of months.

"Fully winding down and dismantling the refinery is anticipated to instrumentality astir 5 years successful total, truthful the caller terminal concern volition run successful parallel with this process."

The Grangemouth refinery was opened by BP successful 1924 and expanded into petrochemicals successful the 1950s,

It is the main supplier of aviation substance for Scotland's airports and a large supplier of petrol and diesel crushed fuels crossed the Central Belt.

Ineos acquired the tract successful 2005 and is liable for the full plant, portion the the refinery itself is owned by Petroineos - a associated task betwixt Ineos and PetroChina.