Workers at the Grangemouth refinery have been sent redundancy letters as closure looms.
It was announced last year that the refinery would close and transition into being an import terminal. Up to 500 jobs are expected to be lost, with 65 due to be kept on as part of the new operation.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of trade union Unite, said the closure is a “national disgrace” and a “needless act of industrial vandalism”.
She said: “There is a clear plan for the future of Grangemouth in place. Yet the UK and Scottish governments are missing in action.” She claimed Grangemouth could be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel.
“Just last week the UK Government announced the expansion of Heathrow and said that sustainable air fuel (SAF) will be needed. Well, Grangemouth can produce SAF – where is the joined up thinking?” she said.
“This the moment for the Government to lead and stand up to Petroineos in the national interest. Petroineos must allow the transition to SAF and biofuels.
“If the company refuses, the Government should be the investor of first resort. There will be 3,500% increase in SAF demand. The market is there. Today’s announcement will not deter us. We will fight for the future of the refinery and the associated jobs.”
A spokesman for Petroineos said: “From Q2 this year, Grangemouth will be ready to operate as a national fuel distribution hub that ensures Scotland’s supply of finished fuels is protected. The process of safely transitioning the site from a refinery into an import terminal is under way and will continue over a number of months.
“Fully winding down and dismantling the refinery is anticipated to take around five years in total, so the new terminal business will operate in parallel with this process.”
The UK and Scottish governments have been asked for comment.
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