Grangemouth might change to sustainable gasoline ‘comparatively simply’, says union
The Grangemouth refinery might “comparatively simply” be transformed right into a manufacturing facility for sustainable aviation gasoline (SAF) over a number of years, the commerce union Unite has claimed.
Basic secretary Sharon Graham mentioned she is “dismayed” by feedback from the Scottish Secretary which appeared to “surrender” on conserving the refinery open.
There are fears for about 400 jobs on the refinery after homeowners Petroineos mentioned they might stop operations there within the second quarter of 2025.
Final week, officers from the corporate advised a Holyrood committee it is just too late to safe a clean transition of the positioning from fossil fuels to renewables, as staff and politicians have instructed.
The Scottish and UK Governments have launched Undertaking Willow, which goals to chart a future for the positioning in low-carbon fuels.
Unite says Grangemouth could possibly be transformed “comparatively simply” to supply SAF – comprised of feedstocks resembling cooking oil – saying this might occur in between one to a few years with out job losses.
They pointed to examples of different refineries world wide resembling P66’s in Rodeo, California, which switched from crude oil to renewable feedstocks at a value of 1 billion US {dollars}.
Unite are sceptical of Peroineos’ claims concerning the lack of monetary viability at Grangemouth, saying there’ll quickly be burgeoning demand for SAF.
In a letter to Power Secretary Ed Miliband, Ms Graham mentioned:
I don’t must remind you that that is the one refinery in Scotland and it’s crucial to our nationwide safety.
“A Labour Authorities not placing collectively a critical plan for the way forward for the positioning and the hundreds of jobs which rely upon it, could be an enormous dereliction of obligation.”
He added,
I used to be extraordinarily involved to listen to the proof of Iain Hardie and Colin Pritchard from Petroineos to the choose committee on Wednesday. Particularly, they claimed that no Authorities discussions round an intervention had occurred but.
“I used to be additionally dismayed on the feedback of (Scottish Secretary) Ian Murray which appeared to surrender on Grangemouth, which is completely unacceptable.”
Unite’s survival plan for the positioning entails the UK and Scottish governments taking a stake within the refinery to stop its closure, although up to now ministers in neither London or Edinburgh have instructed they might do that.
Final week, Mr Murray advised STV “there isn’t any means spherical” the actual fact the refinery is closing in Could.
Iain Hardie, head of authorized and exterior affairs for Petroineos, has advised MSPs the positioning misplaced on common £385,000 per day final week and expects a £150 million loss this yr.
READ the most recent information shaping the biofuels market at Biofuels Central
Grangemouth might change to sustainable gasoline ‘comparatively simply’, says union, supply
