6 November, 2024The closure of Scotland’s only oil refinery at Grangemouth, set for the second quarter of 2025, will cost thousands of workers their jobs, marking a devastating blow to the region’s economy and its workforce.
Petroineos, the owners of the century-old Grangemouth plant, announced plans in October 2023 to shift the site to an import-only facility, transforming it into a distribution terminal for finished fuels. This decision spells the end of refinery operations that have been central to the area for generations.
Unite the Union, an IndustriALL affiliate, has fiercely condemned the closure, demanding urgent intervention from both the UK and Scottish governments to invest in safeguarding the plant’s future and protect the livelihoods of workers.
Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, called the move “an horrific act of industrial vandalism,” asking: “How can Scotland’s only oil refinery be allowed to close? The future of the workers at Grangemouth must be at the heart of any plan to save the plant.”
IndustriALL general secretary, Atle Høie, expressed strong support for the workers, stating:
“This decision to close Grangemouth is unacceptable. We stand firmly behind Unite’s efforts to protect the workers’ livelihoods and demand government investment. The UK Labour government and Scottish government must act now to deliver on their promise for a Just Transition to net-zero that secures high-quality jobs and decent working conditions at Grangemouth.”
The impact of this closure also affects the livelihoods of thousands more in the supply chain serving Grangemouth, threatening to ripple through Scotland’s industrial heartland.