The closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland has sparked criticism from Green MSP Gillian Mackay, who believes there has been a ‘dereliction of duty’ at Holyrood. The refinery, which is Scotland’s only oil refinery, is set to close next year, leading to the loss of 400 jobs and potentially thousands more in the supply chain.
Mackay, who grew up near Grangemouth, expressed her disappointment that action to save the refinery had not been taken earlier. She emphasized the need for reskilling and planning to have started much earlier, even before she entered parliament.
During a protest outside the Scottish Parliament organized by the Unite union, workers shared their fears about the closure. One worker, speaking anonymously, expressed disillusionment with the decisions made by the refinery bosses, indicating that the closure seemed inevitable and that the workers were being left behind.
Another worker, Robert Tomlinson, voiced his anger towards both the Scottish and UK governments for not doing more to keep the refinery open. He highlighted the potential impact on not just the 400 directly employed workers, but also the additional 1,000+ contractors who could be affected by the closure.
Despite the challenges facing the refinery workers, there is some hope for the future. Unite has proposed converting the site into a Sustainable Aviation Fuel facility, which aligns with UK government policies and could potentially create new opportunities for the workforce.
In response to the closure, the UK Energy Minister has announced a support package to assist those impacted by the refinery shutdown. The package includes financial support for the community, investment in local workforce development, and funding for a project to explore sustainable industrial options for the site’s future.
While the closure of the Grangemouth refinery represents a significant loss for the community, efforts are being made to mitigate the impact and support the affected workers. The situation serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by workers in industries undergoing transitions and the importance of government intervention in securing a just and sustainable future for all involved.
