Grangemouth staff made redundant

Redundancy letters have been sent to staff at the Grangemouth refinery as closure looms. It was announced last year that the facility would close and transition into an import terminal as owners Petroineos reported massive losses.

The shift is expected to keep around 65 of the roughly 500 jobs on the site and redundancy letters have begun being handed to staff.

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."

Local SNP MSP Michelle Thomson said she was "shocked and angry".

She added: "A huge number of people are losing their jobs as a result of the premature decision to close the refinery.

"The effect on both the local community in my constituency of Falkirk East and Scotland more widely will be enormous, and my priority, as always, is supporting those impacted at this difficult time.

"The workers at Grangemouth and their families have been let down by the Labour Party, who promised to save Grangemouth.

"It is on them to finally deliver the support that was promised."

The UK and Scottish governments have been asked for comment.

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