Workers at Lindsey Oil Refinery call for more time
A host of politicians have visited the refinery or met refinery lay representatives already this month
Workers at Lindsey Oil Refinery are calling for more time as ‘people have mortgages to pay, families to support, care repayments, they’ve all got to be paid' as they still hold out hope that the refinery can be rescued from closure.
Calls for more time for a possible credible rescue have continued, with several politicians visiting the site near North Killingholme this month.
The last of the crude oil feed supply ended on Friday, August 1.
Blending processes into final production are continuing, two workers said, but these are only expected to last until September.
The UK’s Official Receiver deemed by July 21 no viable buyer had come forward for the site, but has continued to pursue sale of individual site assets.
Two workers claimed refinery units could be “parked” for up to six months, and restarted quickly without a detriment to the structures. “We don’t feel that three weeks was long enough to find a credible buyer,” said one.
They also explained about the potential loss of expertise as workers plan ahead and apply elsewhere. “Operators are experts on that refinery, they’ve got a very niche set of skills and they know that refinery.
“Without the operators, you can’t run that refinery,” one said, noting minimum safe staffing levels required. Workers were having to consider their options.
“There’s people who’ve got mortgages to pay, families to support, care repayments, they’ve all got to be paid. So, they’re the ones that are going to be going.”
“Now you’re getting into the period where people are getting into interviews,” they said, predicting a potential raft of departures in coming weeks.
The workers are also a younger cohort than perhaps many may realise.
“Your average age of your operator is your late 20s,” a worker said, reporting that Prax did a recruitment drive aimed at the next generation of workers.
The duo still hope for the refinery’s rescue from closure. But asked if it does close whether they would potentially move away, one indicated they probably would.
Political visits
A host of politicians have visited the refinery or met refinery lay representatives already this month.
Melanie Onn MP (Labour – Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) recently issued an extensive social media update.
She had met union representatives repeatedly since June, and would continue to. “The message from workers was clear: they are deeply proud of the work they do, and they want the opportunity to keep doing it.”
There was “real frustration about how little time and flexibility has been offered to explore a viable sale”, and “skilled staff are already starting to leave due to the uncertainty”.
But Ms Onn also referenced workers’ belief of a period where it could be restarted following dormancy.
Reform UK’s deputy leader and Boston MP Richard Tice visited as the crude oil feed ran out.
He suggested a joint venture style set-up between the Government and private sector as a “win-win solution”.
Martin Vickers MP (Conservative – Brigg and Immingham) visited on August 6, with Shadow Energy Minister Andrew Bowie.
They met senior officials and employee representatives, and later visited neighbouring Phillips 66 Humber Refinery.
Afterwards, Mr Bowie assured Mr Vickers full support in getting answers on why the Government was “not prepared to underwrite operations at the plant for much longer” to allow more time for potential buyers.
They judged it as the right course of action, not because the Government “would not underwrite” further shipments of crude.
The Official Receiver will continue selling refined products for a number of weeks.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks has stated: “Our sympathies are with the workers, their families and the local community. While we continue to strongly encourage the owners to do the decent thing and publicly commit to making a voluntary financial contribution to support workers, all those directly employed at the refinery are guaranteed jobs over the coming months.”