A group of Scottish Labour MPs have called for public cash to be used to turn the Grangemouth refinery into a green plane fuel hub.
Euan Stainbank, Kirsteen Sullivan, Brian Leishman and Chris Kane have signed a letter demanding a meeting with the National Wealth Fund to convert the refinery for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production.
The National Wealth Fund is a UK Government-owned fund which supports projects across the country. SAF is an alternative fuel which reduces the emissions from flights.
Redundancies will begin at the Grangemouth refinery in the coming months. Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost.
Falkirk MP Stainbank said: “Grangemouth is at a crossroads. We can either allow this refinery to close with no plan, with devastating consequences for jobs and the local economy, or we can seize the opportunity to support its acceleration into a hub for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production. The National Wealth Fund has a critical role to play in making that transition happen.
“We cannot afford to wait. The UK’s SAF mandate is already in force, and Scotland’s only refinery is set to shut down in a matter of months. If we don’t act now, we risk losing the workforce, the infrastructure, and the investment potential that could secure Grangemouth’s future for decades to come.
“Labour was elected on a promise to invest in a Just Transition, to rebuild industrial strategy, and to bring prosperity to places that have been left behind by Tory failure and SNP inaction. People in Falkirk and across Scotland are rightly asking when we will deliver—this meeting is about making sure our constituents and the workers at Grangemouth have the answers”.
The UK Government has said that sustainable aviation fuel was a key part of its reason for supporting a third runway at Heathrow Airport yesterday.
Bathgate and Linlithgow MP Sullivan said the closure threatens jobs “especially those from Linlithgow and Bo’ness.” She said converting the site would “protect jobs, drive local economic growth, and secure a greener future.”
Stirling and Strathallan MP Kane said the refinery “is a key economic centre for the Forth Valley region with many jobs in the supply chain in Stirling, as well as many of those who work in Grangemouth choosing to live in Stirling.” He said both UK and Scottish Governments must “have a laser like focus on achieving the outcome we all want and need”.
Alloa and Grangemouth MP Leishman said: “The consequences of the Grangemouth refinery closing will reverberate around Scotland. This isn’t just a local constituency problem—this is the biggest industrial issue to impact our country in 40 years.” He added: “Time is running out for the government to do the right thing and it’s imperative that they act immediately.”
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