THE Scottish and UK governments must intervene to save the Grangemouth oil refinery from closure, an Alba MP has said.
Both administrations have been accused of lacking a “sense of urgency” by Unite, which represents workers at the site.
It was announced in November that Scotland’s only oil refinery, located just outside Falkirk, would close with owners Petroineos blaming shrinking profit margins.
Alba’s deputy leader Kenny MacAskill led a debate on the closure in the Commons on Tuesday evening, calling on the UK Government to intervene to prevent the site from closing.
Speaking earlier in the day, the East Lothian MP said the Scottish Government should also get around the table with unions and bosses to prevent the loss of an expected 400 jobs.
He said: “This debate is a wake up call to the UK and Scottish Governments to save the Grangemouth refinery. ‘Grangemouth no more’ must not become the legacy of government inaction.
“Scotland is an oil producing nation, at the very heart of the UK’s economic recovery. It is simply unthinkable and totally unacceptable that Scotland could be left with no oil refinery capacity.”
Closing Grangemouth would leave Scotland as one of just a handful of oil-producing countries without a refinery within its borders, MacAskill (below) said.
And the loss of the refinery, which would be turned into an import hub, would “decimate” the economy of Scotland’s central belt, he added.
“The closure of Grangemouth would not just be a hammer blow to the Scottish economy, it would decimate the industrial and social fabric of central Scotland, have an adverse knock-on effect on other key industrial sectors such as chemicals and plastics and considerably worsen the existing skills gap, hampering the achievement of a just transition.
“I am backing the campaign led by Unite to achieve a secure future for Grangemouth.
“Together with Unite I am demanding that the UK and Scottish governments take action.
“For the sake of the workforce, future generations and our industrial base, Grangemouth must be saved.”
During his speech he accused both Scotland’s governments of “resignation” to the fate of the refinery as he urged Edinburgh and London to take action.
Energy Security Minister Graham Stuart said that he had met with Scotland’s Energy Secretary Neil Gray (below) to speak about the matter last year but said the decision to close the refinery was one for its owners.
A Unite spokesperson said: “Unite welcomes all efforts by politicians including Kenny MacAskill to support our campaign to save jobs at the Petroineos refinery based in Grangemouth.
“It is clear to us that if we are to extend the lifespan of the refinery along with actively bringing forward proposals to produce alternative energy products at the complex then this requires full government support at a Scottish and UK level.
“We do not believe government ministers at both administrations share the same sense of urgency over these issues as minimal engagement has occurred following the company’s announcement.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As [the Energy Secretary] has outlined, the Scottish Government is looking at every possible opportunity and avenue that there might be for extending the life of the refinery.
“This would provide critical time and space for the business to bring forward new transition opportunities across Grangemouth and ensure jobs are protected.
“We recognise the important role which Grangemouth plays in meeting fuel demand in Scotland.
“The Scottish Government is committed to working with industry and the UK Government to secure a long term sustainable future for Grangemouth and those who live and work there.”
