John Swinney urged the owners of the Grangemouth oil refinery to reconsider its closure after he heard the “palpable anger” from workers.
The First Minister met with staff from the 100-year-old refinery to reconfirm his commitment to protecting as many jobs as possible.
Petroineos, the joint venture between INEOS and PetroChina, the country’s last operating refiner would close in the second quarter of 2025.
In the last week, the refinery is said to have lost around $500,000 - £381,000 per day.
It is estimated that more than 400 jobs could be axed as the refinery is transitioned to a imports terminal.
Meeting workers and union representatives at Forth Valley College in Falkirk, the First Minister said he had asked Petroineos to reconsider the “premature” closure.
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“I talk to the company, my ministers talk to the company, I’ve talked to the workforce,” he told the PA news agency.
“We’ve made the point that we thought this was premature, the UK Government has talked to them, but we were told yesterday morning this is what was going to be happening.
“I think the decision is premature and I would encourage Petroineos to consider what options there are to prolong the life of the refinery.”
Union representatives said workers got across their “palpable anger and betrayal” during the meeting with Mr Swinney.
Derek Thomson, Unite Scottish Secretary, said: “Unite welcomed the opportunity to discuss with the First Minister the palpable anger and betrayal which our Grangemouth oil refinery members, contractors and the wider community are feeling. Any closure will create an economic earthquake which will be felt for a generation.”
“It is nothing less than an act of brutal industrial vandalism. It is a callous choice PetroIneos are making, and both governments are allowing this closure to happen hiding behind the convenient smokescreen that this is a commercial decision they have no influence over. In the first serious test of the Just Transition process there has been a collective failure by PetroIneos and government to protect jobs. Unite will continue to do everything possible and we will leave no stone unturned in support of our members.”
A northern England competitor – the Stanlow oil refinery – confirmed it was preparing to sell more fuel when the rival Scottish firm closed its doors.
The plant near Liverpool announced in July it planned to invest in infrastructure after the Scottish closure was announced.
However, mystery of the plant’s future remains after Falkirk East MSP Michelle Thomson said she had found a potential buyer for the facility.
A non-disclosure agreement has been signed, she said, limiting what she can say, but she said the refinery could be saved in its entirety, with a “serious” international buyer considering a move.
Petroineos Refining chief executive officer Frank Demay said the plant’s future currently looks like an import terminal, with “significant fewer” staff required to operate it.
Both the Scottish and UK Governments announced a joint support package worth £100 million has been announced which will combine immediate help for impacted staff with long-term investment aimed at developing alternative green industries at the site.
Mr Swinney said: “I am grateful to the members of the Grangemouth workforce and trade union representatives I met today, and thank them for meeting with me at what I know is an extremely worrying time for them and their families.”
He reiterated the closure was “a very disappointing decision” adding he had “repeatedly urged Petroineos to continue refining “for as long as possible”.
He said: “We are in intense dialogue with the trade unions, the company and Falkirk Council and I want to reiterate my assurance that we will continue to work collaboratively with them and the UK Government to secure sustainable, skilled jobs in Grangemouth for many years to come.”
Announcing the closure on Thursday, Mr Demay said: “The energy transition is happening now and it is happening here.
"Demand for key fuels we produce at Grangemouth has already started to decline and, with a ban on new petrol and diesel cars due to come into force within the next decade, we foresee that the market for those fuels will shrink further.
"That reality, aligned with the cost of maintaining a refinery built half a century ago, means we are exploring ways to adapt our business."
He said only around one fifth of the current refinery workforce could be retained, with redundancy discussions set to take place with unions and employees.
It is thought up to 280 workers could go in the three months following the closure while another 100 would be retained for up to a year to begin decommissioning work.
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