CLIMATE protesters from This is Rigged blocked gates and climbed tankers at the Ineos plant in Grangemouth in a bid to “shut down Scotland’s fuel supplies”.
At 4am on Wednesday morning, 24 people with This is Rigged halted operations at two oil terminals which supply the majority of Scotland’s petrol – the terminal at Grangemouth and an oil terminal in Clydebank.
The group is demanding that the Scottish Government vocally oppose all new oil and gas licences.
What happened at the protest?
At 5am on Wednesday morning, 24 people “cut off all of Scotland’s petrol supply”, according to This is Rigged.
The terminal in Grangemouth provides around 70% of the country’s fuel supply. Four people climbed into the pipework of the tanker loading bay.
Climate protestors from @Thisis_Rigged are blockading gates and climbing tankers here at the INEOS plant in Grangemouth - and at a terminal in Clydebank. They’re tying to ‘shut down Scotland’s fuel supplies’ and oppose all new oil and gas licensing. Police are on site. @LBC pic.twitter.com/nd62qFYSKU
— Alan Zycinski (@AlanJZycinski) July 19, 2023
The group added that eleven people have blockaded the access road to the site, preventing tanks from entering or exiting, while a further five disabled tankers in the site’s storage carpark.
A further four people occupied a fuel silo at an oil terminal in Clydebank.
Why have the group taken action?
Emma Brown, 32, is a community worker based in Glasgow and is among those taking action at the site.
🚨BREAKING: THIS IS RIGGED SHUT DOWN SCOTLAND’S FUEL SUPPLIES#ThisIsRigged #FairTransition #NoNewOil pic.twitter.com/zsUYTUbOwd
— This Is Rigged (@Thisis_Rigged) July 19, 2023
She said: “We’re not asking passively anymore – this is too important. We are demanding the Scottish Government stand up for what’s right and oppose all new oil and gas projects and use the devolved powers they have to retrain our workers.
“We want decent jobs on a liveable planet.”
Frances Moore, 61 from South Queensferry, was also at the protest and said: “I am furious that the powers that be are willing to sacrifice our Earth in exchange for their greed and monetary gain.”
Police now setting up a cordon with media asked to film from slightly further back while ‘equipment is unloaded’. pic.twitter.com/Y346t0Upf2
— Alan Zycinski (@AlanJZycinski) July 19, 2023
A spokesperson for Ineos said: “We are aware of a number of protesters at the Petroineos Road Terminal in Grangemouth.
“We have mobilised our incident management team and we are liaising with Police Scotland.
“The protester action is confined to a small area of the site and our manufacturing operations remain unaffected.
“We urge the protesters to consider the safety of themselves, our colleagues and the wider community.
“Our primary concern is always safety. We are taking steps to ensure the safety of all involved and have temporarily closed the terminal to traffic.”
Police have arrived at the scene and a cordon has been set up.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "We are aware of a number of protesters at Ineos in Bo'Ness Road, Grangemouth and the Oil Depot at Rothesay Dock, Clydebank.
"Officers are in attendance."
A Scottish Government Spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government is aware of ongoing incidents at the Grangemouth and NuStar sites. We are in close contact with Police Scotland as they seek to resolve the issue.
“Our draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan sets out a clear pathway to delivering on our global climate commitments while capitalising on the enormous opportunities offered by becoming a net zero economy and securing a just transition for our energy workforce.”
