West Lothian MPs Gregor Poynton and Kirsteen Sullivan are among a five-strong group of Westminster parliamentarians to sign a joint letter urging that a new future is secured for the oil refinery refinery site in Grangemouth.
The group of Labour MPs representing constituencies with close economic and community ties to Grangemouth have jointly written to both the UK and Scottish Governments urging them to mobilise their international networks to help secure a new industrial future for the site.
In letters sent to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray, and Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, as well as to First Minister John Swinney and External Affairs Secretary Angus Robertson, the MPs including those for the Livingston constituency and the Bathgate and Linlithgow constituency, call for a coordinated international drive to attract investment into Project Willow — the clean energy initiative developed in response to Petroineos’ planned closure of the refinery.
The joint UK-Scottish Government response to the closure, announced last year, included a £100 million package for the community and a £1.5 million Project Willow study identifying new industrial opportunities at the site, including low carbon hydrogen, clean eFuels, and sustainable aviation fuels.
As well as Gregor Poynton and Kirsteen Sullivan, the letters were co-signed by Euan Stainbank MP, Falkirk; Chris Kane MP, Stirling and Strathallan; and Brian Leishman MP, Alloa and Grangemouth.
Leading the call, Gregor Poynton MP for Livingston, said: “This is a moment of crisis for Grangemouth — but also a moment of opportunity.
“Project Willow could anchor a clean industrial renaissance for Scotland. But it won’t happen by accident. We need embassies, trade offices and international networks working flat out to attract investment and identify partners who can help bring these technologies to scale.”
Poynton’s letter to the UK Government urges the Foreign Office and Department for Business and Trade to instruct embassies and consulates to actively promote the project. His letter to the Scottish Government calls for a similar push through Scotland’s seven overseas offices.
“The Scottish and UK Governments have made the right moves in committing funding and working together — but we now need action that matches the scale of the challenge,” Poynton added.
“The refinery will shut its doors next year. Thousands of livelihoods, and the future of Scotland’s industrial base, are at stake. This demands urgency, internationalism, and coordination.”
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