Aberdeen-based Stacey Oil Services has confirmed its involvement in the rescue plan for Grangemouth Refinery.
The firm, which specialises in tools and rental equipment for the offshore industry, is understood to be representing a Canadian company.
There is some scepticism over the bid.
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On Sunday, speaking to the BBC, Energy Minister, Gillian Martin said she was “slightly wary” of the reports of a potential buyer.
A spokesperson for Petroineos confirmed they had “seen no evidence of a credible bid for the refinery.”
Berkeley March, who works for Stacey Oil, at first denied his involvement in the possible purchase of the refinery when approached by The Herald last week.
However, he confirmed on Sunday that the company was associated with the surprise bid and was working with SNP MSP Michelle Thomson.
He said: “We are focussing on getting a good outcome for the workers, not getting in the newspapers.”
According to his LinkedIn page, Mr March is the Global Sales Executive at Stacey Oil, “providing sales, chartering for the offshore market and fuel trading in Jet A1, Diesel and LNG.”
He is also a designer of luxury yachts, including the 49m all-carbon golden superyacht, Khalilah.
Petroineos, the joint venture between INEOS and PetroChina, who own the 100-year-old refinery, first announced plans to close the refinery last November, and said that its future as an import terminal would “require significantly fewer people to operate”.
They say they expect the transformation to "lead to a net reduction of approximately 400 roles over the next two years."
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.
The company say they have already recorded losses in excess of $775 million, despite investing $1.2 billion.
According to reports, the refinery is currently losing around half a million dollars a day.
In her interview with the BBC, Ms Martin said the Scottish Government had “no idea” who the potential buyer was.
“I think one of the things that I’m slightly wary of is the fact that Petroineos actually said around late November last year that their intention was to close the refinery in its current form and turn it into an import terminal,” she said.
“I would have imagined that if anyone was interested in taking over the refinery, that would have been the key point to get in touch, but obviously, I don’t know the background of these people.”
Ms Martin added: “I would like to know who they are, I would like to know what their background is.
“And I think Petroineos obviously would like to have an understanding of who this person is as well.”
News of the possible purchase emerged on Thursday, just hours after Petroineos confirmed the closure.
Ms Thomson stunned colleagues at First Minister's Questions when she announced she was in discussions with a potential buyer.
However, she said that she had signed a non-disclosure agreement and was unable to share more details.
A spokesman for Petroineos: "We have seen no evidence of a credible bid for the refinery. If a genuine offer is forthcoming, we will engage seriously with it."
Meanwhile, Unite the union has blasted both Ms Martin and UK Government energy minister Michael Shanks for “downplaying and deflecting” the impact of the closure.
Over the weekend, both ministers suggested the unemployed workers would be able to find other work.
The union’s General Secretary, Sharon Graham said: “Scotland backed Labour at the ballot box but so far Labour has utterly failed to deliver for the Grangemouth workers when it needed them most.
“The SNP government has also shown itself to be irrelevant to the needs of working class communities. This is industrial vandalism on a mass scale.
“Over the last few days, our members have witnessed government ministers condescendingly speaking about ready-made jobs being available.
“It is fantasy talk from people who have no clue about the realities on the ground. We need urgent action to support the workers of today not just warm words from ministers about the projects of the future.”
Shortly after the news of the closure, the UK and Scottish governments unveiled a "three-point plan for a just transition for the workforce and community".
The package includes £20m of new joint funding on top of £80m promised for the Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal, to invest "in local energy projects to create new opportunities for growth in the region".
Project Willow, a study funded by the UK and Scottish governments, looking at ways to secure a future for the site, has also identified a shortlist of three credible options to "begin building a new long-term industry at the refinery site, including low carbon hydrogen, clean eFuels and sustainable aviation fuels".
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