PetroIneos plant at Grangemouth(Image: Daily Record)Motherwell and Wishaw’s MSP has drawn comparisons of the demise of Grangemouth’s oil refinery to the steel works at Ravenscraig Clare Adamson blasted the UK Government after Grangemouth’s owner Petroineos confirmed Scotland’s only oil refinery has stopped processing crude oil after a century of operations The SNP MSP expressed solidarity with the workers who she says have been let down by Labour after they promised before last year’s UK General Election to save the refinery She condemned the Labour UK Government’s failure to protect the livelihoods of the Grangemouth workforce drawing a powerful comparison between the situation at Grangemouth and the closure of the Ravenscraig steelworks on 24 June 1992 which left a damaging legacy in post-industrial Motherwell The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now Get all the news from your area – as well as features sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The SNP has called for the Grangemouth refinery to be nationalised but this was rejected by the UK Government despite the Labour administration recently taking similar action to save the British Steelworks at Scunthorpe Ms Adamson said: “I watched as the Ravenscraig towers came down Ravenscraig was the biggest strip steel mill in Europe at the time 1,200 jobs were lost directly and thousands more across Lanarkshire It left a lasting scar on the lives and livelihoods of people in my community The former steel works at Ravenscraig(Image: DX)“It is the moment that drove me into politics because I wanted to push for better outcomes for people in Motherwell and Wishaw and governance which served the interests of the people of Scotland we need to transition away from fossil fuels and focus our investment on renewables But that cannot be done without a transition for the people who work in the sector That was the real betrayal at Ravenscraig; the failure to provide any kind of fair transition for the workers and communities devastated by UK policies.” The MSP claims many in the Motherwell community never really recovered from the loss of Ravenscraig and that the people of Grangemouth now find themselves in a similar predicament Petroineos in Grangemouth(Image: Daily Record)‌“The awful situation at Grangemouth reminds me of those days,” she continued “And we can see a clear division between action at Scunthorpe when it was threatened with closure and inaction at Grangemouth “The UK Government was right to step in to save the steel plant at Scunthorpe; the workers deserved that protection and we are now in the bizarre situation of being an oil-producing country without refining capacity Workers protest at Petroineos plans to close Grangemouth oil refinery earlier this year(Image: PA)‌“The people of Grangemouth have been betrayed by this Labour government just as my own constituency was betrayed by Thatcher’s government during the closure of Ravenscraig I never thought I’d see the day when a Labour government would turn its back on a community in the same way “The Scottish Government has worked constructively with the UK Government since the General Election But Labour came into power on a clear promise to save the refinery The refinery in Grangemouth pictured from Bo'ness(Image: Daily Record)‌“It’s times like these that show why I push for Scottish independence We need full control over our own affairs because this incident shows that whether it’s the Tories or Labour in power the UK does not serve Scotland’s interests “Project Willow is the plan to secure Grangemouth’ long term industrial future I am sad that there was no equivalent of Project Willow for Ravenscraig but we need to get on with delivering for this nationally significant site And we need to see long-term investment and commitment to repairing the damage done by the UK’s post-industrial legacy for communities like mine.” * Don't miss the latest hea dlines from around Lanarkshire. 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Organisation: Grangemouth Community Sports Trust Grangemouth Community Sports Trust is looking for Casual Workers to support events at Grangemouth Stadium throughout the year Grangemouth Community Sports Trust is a new charity (a SCIO) set up to manage Grangemouth Stadium for community benefit Grangemouth Stadium is central Scotland’s premier athletics training and competition facility and hosts a large number of regional squad training days and coaching conferences It has been the home of many Olympic and Commonwealth squad teams for training and boasts the relocated Hampden track from the 2014 Commonwealth Games It is home to Falkirk Victoria Harriers and Forth Valley Flyers and is of huge importance to the local community The Trust seeks to widen and diversify the use of the facilities to secure its future and create a health and well-being hub for the local community We are looking to recruit a number of Casual Workers to support events hosted at the Stadium such as scottishathletics Track and Field Championships the Scottish Schools Track and Field Championships and the Scottish Disability Sports Athletics Championships cleaning and tidying and generally supporting the event You will be paid £12.21 per hour and be provided with the necessary training to carry out the required tasks We can also provide you with a record of your work (a ‘work passport’) for use in seeking other employment or study More details Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Petroineos, which runs the refinery, notified staff by email that all oil refining work had ended. This means that all fuel needed in Scotland must be imported notified staff by email that all oil refining work had ended and that the first group of redundant workers are leaving plant – with 200 to depart by the end of June Grangemouth Refinery will cease processing crude oil and the era of refining at Grangemouth comes to an end,” the notice read Petroineos’ crude oil refinery has been synonymous with Grangemouth for a century – but now hundreds of jobs will be lost in the town “For over a 100 years the name Grangemouth has been synonymous with the refining industry but the world has changed and the market in Scotland has been unable to support a refinery.” The local MP said Scotland “is a victim of industrial vandalism and devastation” as a result of the closure Scotland’s only oil refinery announced it would close hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies have also been made The processing plant is being transformed into an import terminal the plant said 85% of demand for transport fuels had been met with imported products In Letter From America the Proclaimers sang “Bathgate no more “Grangemouth no more” could be added to the list lamenting the decline of Scotland’s industry and the loss of jobs sent out at 11 o’clock this morning says “for over 100 years the name Grangemouth has been synonymous with the refining industry but the world has changed and the market in Scotland has been unable to support a Refinery” and aviation fuel needs will still be met through Grangemouth They will just be stored and distributed from Grangemouth The Proclaimers’ famous song is not just about the loss of heavy industry or the Highland Clearances it is about people and the loss of livelihoods Closing Grangemouth oil refinery means the direct loss of 400 jobs and redundancies which will begin tomorrow Many other contractors could lose their jobs too some workers at Ineos are also facing redundancy because they were contracted to the refinery side of the business “Grangemouth no more” is hard for them to take All oil refining in Scotland ceased on Tuesday as operations at Grangemouth ended. stvnews scotland #grangemouth Iain Hardie, Petroineos regional head of legal and external affairs, said: “Grangemouth refinery is no longer processing crude oil. “Petroineos has invested £50m in creating a modern import and distribution terminal capable of receiving finished fuels by sea for onward distribution to customers around the country. From today, we will be importing all the products necessary to meet Scotland’s demand for transport fuels. “We would like to pay tribute to the workforce here. Our colleagues have shown incredible commitment, dignity and resilience during months of uncertainty regarding the future of this facility, through the consultation period, phased shutdown and the start of refinery decommissioning. “It has been a challenging period but their professionalism has ensured security of fuel supply to our customers across Scotland and beyond.” Both the UK and Scottish governments had launched a plan to protect hundreds of jobs at the site. The multi-million-pound Project Willow study determined it needed £3.5bn worth of private investment The landmark report published last month looked at 300 potential projects that could ensure the future of Scotland’s largest industrial site, identifying nine that were “credible”. The UK Government is offering £200m and the Scottish Government is backing it with £25m. However, the plans would only create about 1,100 jobs – around half the number of posts at risk from the closure of the refinery. Initial interest in the rescue plan has been “above expectations”, deputy first minister Kate Forbes said earlier this month. “Both Scottish Enterprise and site owners Petroineos have confirmed that they’ve received numerous expressions of interest from numerous parties,” Forbes said. Project Willow comes months after the refinery, operated by Petroineos, announced its closure and plans to convert into a fuel import and export terminal. Petroineos claimed the changes were due to a continuing decline in profitability and the need for substantial new investment to keep the refinery running. In response, the UK and Scottish Governments have been working with Petroineos and its shareholders to ensure a long-term future for the site. The Project Willow feasibility report provides nine “credible” proposals likely to attract private investment, including plastics recycling, hydrogen production and other projects that could create up to 1,090 jobs by 2040. The UK and Scottish governments say efforts will now focus on identifying partners and investors who, in collaboration, can bring these projects to life. Scotland’s First Minster has said the end of oil refining at Grangemouth is a “very sad day for Scotland”. “The end of refining at Grangemouth is a very sad day for Scotland,” John Swinney said in a post on X. “This news is very damaging for workers and everyone in the area. “The Scottish Government will work to secure a future for the Grangemouth community and agreement to the Acorn Carbon Capture project is essential.” MPs discussed the closure in the Commons on Tuesday. Brian Leishman, the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said: “Today is the end of over a century of refining at Grangemouth. “Scotland once again is a victim of industrial vandalism and devastation, and I don’t want anyone in this chamber to dare mention a ‘just transition’, because we all know that the Conservatives when in power and the SNP currently in Holyrood did nothing to avert this catastrophic decision happening”. Leishman shook his head and shouted “not enough” as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband replied: “Grangemouth has a really important role in Scotland. “What I would say to him and to others is this Government, as soon as it saw the situation it inherited, put money in to help the workers and has made this huge investment commitment of £200 million working hand-in-glove with the Scottish Government so we absolutely build a future in Grangemouth.” Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine referred to remarks from Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who said his company may have to pause investment due to high energy prices and carbon taxes. Jardine said: “Today there are warnings from Grangemouth that they may have to pause important projects to switch to greener and more sustainable energies because of what they describe as the soaring energy bills and the pressures of income tax.” STV News is now on WhatsAppGet all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Follow STV News on WhatsAppScan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country '+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text+' "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title+" "+scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text+" Daily Business Magazine A magazine complement to the Daily Business website May 1, 2025 by 1 Comment Just like the closure of the last coal mine the end of crude oil refining at Grangemouth was felt like a death in the family A century of industrial endeavour is over and the facilities that literally fuelled a nation stand idle Four hundred workers have been sent home and a community that depended on their wage packets is left waiting to discover its own fate Social media has been awash with the usual vitriol and its Scottish leader Anas Sarwar in particular accused of betrayal and downright lies over the plant’s future and subject to calls for medieval-style punishment meted out by a mix of mildly persuasive intellectuals political opponents and those who can only be described as misguided and ill-informed blabbermouths is the belief that the refinery should have been saved and that refining should continue should have its own means of getting the finished product to market Those proclaiming that an independent Scotland would keep the refinery open seem to have overlooked the prevailing political zeal to wind down its essential product The plain truth is that to save Grangemouth and that will require the mother of all u-turns on energy policy the SNP and Labour are committed to scaling back oil and gas production and so too does all the infrastructure that surrounds it Outraged nationalists demanding the Labour government takes similar action towards Grangemouth as it has towards saving the British Steel plant at Scunthorpe are missing a key point but Scunthorpe is the sole provider of a product that is in demand not least to make the nationalists’ cherished wind turbines War in Ukraine and its affect on supplies has reminded us that we need our own source of steel is one of half a dozen UK oil refineries and there is sufficient capacity in the system to handle current levels of production without it and more so when there is a Scottish general election to be fought but the calls for nationalisation of Grangemouth from First Minister John Swinney and his Westminster leader Stephen Flynn are a touch mischievous and risk tipping the debate into even more venomous levels of what passes for political discourse had known for five years that Grangemouth was a busted flush Not only was there was no mention of the ‘N’ word there were no calls for any form of intervention Not a penny offered in support of the plant and its workers The SNP and the new Labour government took another look at the books last year and conceded that they simply could not afford to meet the half million dollars a day losses that the private sector no longer considers sustainable As Iain Hardie of the plant’s owner Petroineos told a parliamentary committee last month: “I can only presume they drew the same conclusions we have drawn that to continue with refining operations was not an economic proposition and therefore they were not prepared to put taxpayers’ money into it.” It was the arrival of Ed Miliband as UK Energy Secretary last summer that changed the mood Mliband and his team just ‘got it in a way that we had not had before” Miliband – another of those feeling the harsh tongue of the hate mob – was singled out for praise by Hardie Speaking to the Scottish Affairs Committee in the Commons he acknowledged Miliband’s leadership and the work shared with Labour’s Energy Minister Michael Shanks together with Gillian Martin Working together under the Project Willow initiative to find a future for Grangemouth “we have driven this at transactional pace” who helped write the Project Willow report told MPs that the nine renewables options presented an “exciting” future for the site This cross-party action and the work done by those on the Willow inquiry has barely got the credit it deserves a toxic blame game has been played out across social media which has been fuelled [pardon the pun] by Swinney and Flynn breaking this consensus to make their point-scoring switch to the nationalisation camp this is particularly ironic given his regular calls for a less divisive-style of politics and for all parties to work together for the good of Scotland he has a lot of work to do if Grangemouth is not to be the issue that costs him his political career His claim during a TV debate last year that an incoming Labour government would “step in and save the jobs at the refinery” is being repeated ad nauseum on social media He should be promoting the work of his Westminster colleagues Miliband and Shanks making the case for speeding up investment in the site and making it clear why politicians of all parties decided that it was no longer able to refine oil Maybe then his opponents will start listening Terry Murden was Editor and Business Editor at The Sunday Times Scotland and Business and City Editor at Scotland on Sunday >Latest Daily Business news May 1, 2025 at 21:07 Nonsense written from a unionist Westminster perspective Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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[More...] about Saving Grangemouth means saving oil [More...] about Taxes and tariffs undo the wealth of nations [More...] about How to deal with disgruntled employees [More...] about HNH celebrates five years of growth Copyright © 2025 · Design by jPAD Consulting · Magazine Pro · Genesis Framework Alba Party Leader Kenny MacAskill and Falkirk Independent councillors Cllr Brian McCabe (Denny/Banknock) and Cllr Bob Spears (Grangemouth) have today (Friday 2 May) unveiled a "Tombstone from Scottish Labour" and laid a wreath to mark the end of oil refining at Grangemouth The "Tombstone from Scottish Labour" reads: "in loving memory of GRANGEMOUTH REFINERY In a statement Alba Party Leader Kenny MacAskill said: Scotland is now the only major oil producing nation to be without its own oil refining capacity The workers were promised that their jobs would be safe if they voted Labour at the 2024 Election "The promises made have been broken and the workers at Grangemouth have been cynically cast aside Oil refining at Grangemouth has been sacrificed while steel making at Scunthorpe has been saved "Scottish Labour will never be forgiven by the workers their families and the local community for this betrayal.” Also attending Cllr Bob Spears the Councillor for Grangemouth ward said: “The workers of Grangemouth have no quarrel with the workforce at Scunthorpe but are rightly angry that their jobs were not worth saving in the eyes of the UK Government while the plant at Scunthorpe was The workers and community of Grangemouth will never trust Labour again.” Continuing Cllr Brian McCabe the Councillor for Denny/Banknock ward said: “We are seeing an economic catastrophe taking place with far reaching social consequences for the communities and small businesses of Grangemouth and Falkirk which is all the more tragic because it did not need to happen "A UK Government willing to invest in Grangemouth as it has done in Scunthorpe could have saved the plant and guaranteed the jobs for years to come UK Government Ministers should hang their heads in shame at the economic vandalism which they have inflicted on Grangemouth.” "With Scottish Labour Scotland always loses The ending of oil refining at Grangemouth shows beyond any doubt that there is no salvation from London Labour "Nothing demonstrates the need for Independence more than the failure of Labour in London to save Scotland's only oil refinery and a key national strategic asset Scotland needs to take control of our own destiny into our own hands." 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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports Plans to secure a long-term industrial future for Grangemouth have been stepped up as a feasibility study sets out 9 options for its future The plan – which is backed by £200 million from the UK government and £25 million from the Scottish Government – will support jobs The £1.5 million feasibility study – published today by EY – follows the recent decision by Petroineos to decommission the oil refinery It has identified credible long-term industrial options for the Grangemouth site and explored how it can build on its skilled workforce local expertise and long heritage as a fuel leader in Scotland to forge a new path in low carbon energy production The report provides nine proposals likely to attract private investment hydrogen production and other projects that could create up to 800 jobs by 2040 and deliver on both governments’ shared ambition to secure a long term future for Grangemouth Energy Minister Michael Shanks and Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin are co-chairing a meeting this morning (Wednesday 19 March) of the Grangemouth Future Industry Board with local industry leaders Scottish Enterprise and the UK government’s Office for Investment will work with Petroineos to market the proposals set out in Project Willow and seek investor interest It follows the Prime Minister’s announcement last month of £200 million to help unlock Grangemouth’s full potential First Minister John Swinney also announced £25 million to establish a Grangemouth Just Transition Fund which will support businesses and stakeholders to bring forward investible propositions over the next 12 months for the site We committed to leaving no stone unturned in supporting an industrial future for Grangemouth delivering jobs and economic growth This report and the £200 million investment by the UK government demonstrates that commitment We will build on Grangemouth’s expertise and industrial heritage to attract investors The publication of the Project Willow report and the options it sets out marks a significant milestone in our commitment to deliver a long-term sustainable future for the Grangemouth site which benefits the local community and the Scottish economy Working alongside the Scottish Government and local partners we remain committed to supporting the skilled workforce at Grangemouth and are already working to attract investors for the projects outlined in this report The Prime Minister recently announced a £200 million investment in Grangemouth through the National Wealth Fund which followed the £100 million Falkirk and Grangemouth Growth Deal delivered jointly with the Scottish Government Scotland is at the centre of our Plan for Change as we become a clean energy superpower over the next few years We will leave no stone unturned in order to secure the future of the Grangemouth refinery site and the Scottish Government has already committed or invested a total of £87 million to help do so Grangemouth is home to over a century of industrial expertise and employs thousands of highly skilled workers placing the site at a massive competitive advantage and creating a unique opportunity for investors Everyone working at Grangemouth’s refinery – and in the wider industrial cluster - is a valued employee with skills that are key to Scotland’s economic and net zero future This report sets out a wide range of viable alternatives for the refinery site new industrial future at Grangemouth is achievable We will continue to work closely with the UK government to realise these opportunities and Scottish Enterprise stands ready to support inward investors looking to progress any of these technologies Alongside launching a search for investors both governments have also committed to review the Project Willow policy recommendations and understand how government funding can be deployed to mature proposals from the private sector The £25 million Grangemouth Just Transition Fund and £200 million from the National Wealth Fund for co-investment are on top of existing investments to ensure the long-term economic future of the Grangemouth area and support the workforce Any National Wealth Fund investment will be subject to investible propositions and the Fund’s criteria – the proposition must deliver a positive return drive regional and economic growth or support activity to tackle climate change Find more information on investment opportunities. Opportunities and enquiries can be sent to grangemouth@scotent.co.uk. Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Real progress is being made on the report which charts a future for Grangemouth the Deputy First Minister has said after oil refining finally ended at the industrial site earlier this week Kate Forbes said the end of oil processing at Scotland’s last refinery was a “dark moment” in the country’s industrial history However she said Scottish Enterprise has received 66 inquiries related to Project Willow – which plots a future for Grangemouth in low-carbon energy – as well as other activities at the site Owners Petroineos confirmed on Tuesday that Grangemouth has now transitioned to become an import terminal for finished fuels rather than an oil refinery Ms Forbes delivered an update on the situation to MSPs on Wednesday Both the Scottish and UK governments had commissioned Project Willow to try and preserve jobs at the site She said: “Yesterday’s news that Petroineos has now ceased refining at Grangemouth is a devastating blow to Scotland’s economy “My thoughts are with all of the workers impacted as they navigate these difficult times “Whilst we have anticipated this moment since Petroineos made their decision last September it is none the less a dark moment in Scotland’s industrial history “It is clear that real progress is being made on both the outputs from Project Willow and other associated manufacturing opportunities “Scottish Enterprise are dealing with 66 inquiries aligned to both the full range of technologies set out in the report as well as to manufacturing activities carried out across the wider cluster.” She said the situation is “nothing short of an economic crisis” as she called on the UK Government to do more to support investment Conservative MSP Stephen Kerr accused Ms Forbes of playing a “constitutional game” saying the SNP have been hostile to the oil and gas industry The Deputy First Minister said many proposals present “incredible opportunities” for the site Labour’s Daniel Johnson said the UK Government had pledged £200 million for the future of Grangemouth saying the SNP had been made aware the refinery was under threat five years ago Ms Forbes said the Scottish Government had been engaging with Petroineos and has been “actively at work to secure the future of this key industrial asset”. The Grangemouth refinery has now ceased processing crude oil The industrial site in central Scotland was the last oil refinery operating north of the border the company said the refining activities would cease in 2025 as it transitions to become an import terminal for finished fuels A significant report commissioned by the Scottish and UK governments aimed to chart a future for the site in low-carbon energy But the report said this would require around £3.5 billion of private investment Petroineos has said the refinery is loss-making and has rejected claims from unions that the site could easily transition into a hub for producing sustainable aviation fuel regional head of legal and external affairs said: “Grangemouth refinery is no longer processing crude oil “Petroineos has invested £50 million in creating a modern import and distribution terminal capable of receiving finished fuels by sea for onward distribution to customers around the country we will be importing all the products necessary to meet Scotland’s demand for transport fuels.” He continued: “We would like to pay tribute to the workforce here “Our colleagues have shown incredible commitment dignity and resilience during months of uncertainty regarding the future of this facility phased shutdown and the start of refinery decommissioning.” Other parts of the wider Grangemouth complex including the Forties pipeline system which links to the North Sea will not be affected by the site’s closure Responding to the announcement, First Minister John Swinney said: “The end of refining at Grangemouth is a very sad day for Scotland “This news is very damaging for workers and everyone in the area MPs discussed the closure in the Commons on Tuesday said: “Today is the end of over a century of refining at Grangemouth “Scotland once again is a victim of industrial vandalism and devastation and I don’t want anyone in this chamber to dare mention a ‘just transition’ because we all know that the Conservatives when in power and the SNP currently in Holyrood did nothing to avert this catastrophic decision happening” Mr Leishman shook his head and shouted “not enough” as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband replied: “Grangemouth has a really important role in Scotland “What I would say to him and to others is this Government as soon as it saw the situation it inherited put money in to help the workers and has made this huge investment commitment of £200 million working hand-in-glove with the Scottish Government so we absolutely build a future in Grangemouth.” Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine referred to remarks from Ineos chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe who said his company may have to pause investment due to high energy prices and carbon taxes Ms Jardine said: “Today there are warnings from Grangemouth that they may have to pause important projects to switch to greener and more sustainable energies because of what they describe as the soaring energy bills and the pressures of income tax.” Sharon Graham, the general secretary of the trade union Unite, said the UK and Scottish governments had “utterly failed” to protect jobs at the refinery. “Highly skilled, well-paid workers, are being thrown on an industrial scrapheap,” she added. “Starmer and Swinney have allowed one of the worst self-inflicted blows to happen in generations, and they will face the electoral consequences.” “The job cuts are entirely unnecessary. There are projects like SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) production which can be accelerated to protect jobs. and those opportunities must not be lost. “It would pave the way for Grangemouth to become a world leader in green aviation. “For all the talk, nothing has been done and both governments have effectively allowed China to shut down Scotland’s capacity to refine fuel, as it hopes to use Grangemouth as an import hub. Workers will not forget or forgive.” STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said the closure was an “inexcusable and unforgivable failure” of both governments during her speech at the body’s congress in Dundee. Local Scottish Green MSP Gillian Mackay said the announcement will be “devastating” for the area, adding: “It is a further blow to the community. It is deeply disappointing that Labour have not stepped in to protect workers or to future-proof jobs in the same way that they have with steelworks down south. “Grangemouth is my home, and it has been frustrating to see promises being made and dropped as easily as Petroineos’ detached billionaire has now dropped the workforce. “I am concerned about what this will look like in the short-term for the town. “Grangemouth holds a lot of potential, as do the workers who offer the skills we need for transitioning away from fossil fuels.” Hundreds of staff were made redundant after all oil refining work officially ended this week. Petro-Ineos, which runs the refinery, notified staff by email that all oil refining work had ended and that the first group of redundant workers are leaving the plant – with 200 to depart by the end of June. The company described ceasing refining at Grangemouth as the “end of an era”, but for workers being made redundant it feels like much more than that. Andrew Peterson, who’s father and grandfather worked at Grangemouth before him, described the move as “devastating”. He left work at the refinery for the final time on Wednesday and now fears he may have to move abroad to find employment. “I would say there’s a flurry of emotions,” he told STV News. “I’m a little bit excited and what’s to come next, but a little bit terrified that I don’t have anything lined up. “I was one of the first batches of people to leave. There’s more to come in May and June. There’s no real equivalent job near here. “We’re just going to need to go where the jobs are.” Project Willow came up with options to transform the refinery site into a hub for green technology. Biotechnology company MiAlgae could be one of the first companies ready to move to the site, and hopes to employ some PetroIneos staff before they spend their 18 months redundancy pay. Douglas Martin, founder and managing director of MiAlgae, said: “Over the first phase we’re looking at creating around 100 jobs, which I think from our side is really exciting. “I feel good about being part of that transition. “We’re retraining people out of Grangemouth already and the process is built in a way that allows us to do that so we’re certainly looking to be hiring towards the end of the year.” Ryan Duff The Grangemouth oil refinery has ceased operations with politicians set to feel the “wrath of voters” over job losses The writing has been on the wall for Scotland’s last oil refinery for some time, and despite engagement from the Scottish and UK governments, 400 jobs are set to be cut from the site.  argued that “the UK and Scottish governments have utterly failed to protect refinery jobs at Grangemouth and thousands face losing their jobs as oil refining in Scotland ends” Last week, UK energy minister Michael Shanks said that the situation at Grangemouth was a “really good example of a transition done badly”. A letter sent to staff on Tuesday morning read: “For over 100 years the name Grangemouth has been synonymous with the refining industry but the world has changed and the market in Scotland has been unable to support a refinery” Trade unions kept the pressure up on the UK and Scottish governments to support operations at the site as Petroineos deliberated over its future Demonstrations have been held both in the Forth Valley town and at Holyrood calling for public support for the hundreds set to lose their jobs Last month, the government-backed Project Willow produced a report which claimed a series of clean energy projects at the Grangemouth refinery could create around 800 jobs over the next 15 years. The SNP and Labour administrations also launched a Grangemouth Just Transition Fund with £25m from the Scottish government and £200m from the UK government Graham said not enough was done to stop Grangemouth’s “highly-skilled well-paid workers” from being thrown on the “industrial scrapheap” Scottish first minister John Swinney passed the blame to his Westminster counterparts as he argued more should have been done at a UK government level “We have said all along that this decision was premature fundamentally short-sighted and detrimental to the transition to net zero,” Swinney said “Our calls for the UK government to step in and try and maintain operations have gone unheeded so far.” the Holyrood leader said that it is not too late for prime minister Keir Starmer’s government to act pointing to the recent nationalisation of steel production in Scunthorpe they need to act to secure the site’s future as interventions of this magnitude would require action from the UK government,” he added “We need to know and understand what assets are there at the refinery that could potentially be used to help Grangemouth contribute to our net zero economy in the future.” both Starmer and Swinney are set to “face the electoral consequences” for the closure of the refinery and the loss of jobs in Grangemouth There are projects like SAF [sustainable aviation fuel] production and those opportunities must not be lost,” Graham said “It would pave the way for Grangemouth to become a world leader in green aviation.” Graham said that despite plenty being said from both governments “nothing has been done” and that Swinney and Starmer have “effectively allowed China to shutdown Scotland’s capacity to refine fuel as it hopes to use Grangemouth as an import hub.” She warned: “Workers will not forget or forgive.” Swinney’s response to the news primarily focused on his sympathies for those impacted by the closure “I want to pay tribute to the workers at Grangemouth who I know will be deeply concerned by this news but who have acted throughout this process with professionalism,” he said “Everyone will know someone or some family affected and this news will be difficult for everyone in the local area.” Looking ahead to next year’s Holyrood election Unite Scottish secretary Derek Thomson said that the SNP leader and his Scottish Labour opponent Thomson claimed: “John Swinney and Anas Sarwar will face the wrath of voters for their broken promises to the workers and the people of Grangemouth.” Despite promises that millions would be spent to protect those working at the site he said “not one job will be saved” “Not one job will be created for years by Project Willow and not one penny of the £200m National Wealth Fund can be unlocked without private investment.” Swinney said that the skills of those at the Petroineos site are “valued and we want them to stay” “That is why we have provided up to £450,000 for a skills intervention which is being delivered by Forth Valley College to help retrain and upskill affected workers,” the first minister said “That will enable them to progress to the sort of new jobs that will be created through the Project Willow proposals and other opportunities across the Grangemouth cluster.” Another grim milestone in Britain’s elective deindustrialisation was reached today: Scotland’s only remaining petrochemical plant ceased refining crude oil after more than half a century of processing output from the Forties field in the North Sea announced last year that Grangemouth was to become a terminal for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imported from abroad. But today’s news is significant because nothing better exposes the contradictory state of British energy policy Nothing could better expose the contradictory state of British energy policy Despite Britain having substantial reserves of hydrocarbons in the North Sea – approximately 24 billion barrels – the UK government is choosing to switch to costly imports which are likely to be more carbon-intensive than our own supplies since much of it is transported thousands of miles by tanker much of the LNG we import annually from America is extracted using hydraulic fracturing (fracking): a method banned here Already a subscriber? Log in Iain Macwhirter is a former BBC TV presenter and was political commentator for The Herald between 1999 and 2022 He is an author of Road to Referendum and Disunited Kingdom: How Westminster Won a Referendum but Lost Scotland Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in (PRL) has permanently ended conventional processing activities at Petroineos Manufacturing Scotland Ltd.’s 150,000-b/d Grangemouth refinery complex on the Firth of Forth in Scotland (OGJ Online Grangemouth refinery was no longer processing crude oil PRL confirmed to OGJ in an e-mailed statement “[PRL] has invested £50 million (US$66.4 million) in creating a modern import and distribution terminal capable of receiving finished fuels by sea for onward distribution to customers around the country,” said Iain Hardie Petroineos’ regional head of legal and external affairs.  we will be importing all the products necessary to meet Scotland’s demand for transport fuels,” Hardie added PRL extended its appreciation to Grangemouth’s workforce about 400 of which were set to lose employment with the refinery’s shutdown “Our colleagues have shown incredible commitment and resilience during months of uncertainty regarding the future of this [refinery] but their professionalism has ensured security of fuel supply to our customers across Scotland and beyond," Hardie said PRL is a joint venture of INEOS AG’s Ineos Investments (Jersey) Ltd (50.1%) and China National Petroleum Corp.’s PetroChina Co (PetroChina) subsidiary PetroChina International (London) Co the plan—backed by £25 million from the Scottish government and £200 million from the UK government—includes investments such as: Both the UK and Scottish governments said they work with Petroineos to market the proposals set out in Project Willow and seek investor interest to support businesses and stakeholders in a goal to bring forward investible propositions for the site within the next 12 months In the wake of the refinery’s closure Unite the Union (Unite)—the country’s largest trade union—issued an Apr 29 statement in which it warned political leaders of electoral consequences for failing the refinery’s workforce and the broader Grangemouth community “The UK and Scottish governments have utterly failed to protect refinery jobs at Grangemouth and thousands face losing their jobs as oil refining in Scotland ends,” said Sharon Graham “There are projects like SAF production which can be accelerated to protect jobs and…pave the way for Grangemouth to become a world leader in green aviation,” Graham said Unite cited an impact assessment by PwC that concluded the Grangemouth refinery makes an economic contribution of £403.6 million/year and that “almost 3,000 workers [relied] on the refinery’s operations.” “[B]oth [the UK and Scottish] governments have effectively allowed China to shutdown Scotland’s capacity to refine fuel as it hopes to use Grangemouth as an import hub,” Graham contended “Workers will not forget or forgive,” she said Graham pointed out that while Project Willow has identified nine possible projects for the site most of these [projects] would not start for several years after the site had closed and jobs had been lost.” Unite believes many of the potential projects “could be fast tracked and implemented now,” including “a rapid move to convert the existing refinery to [SAF] production…starting with co-processing [of renewable feedstock with conventional crude].” not one job will be created for years by Project Willow and not one penny of the £200-million National Wealth Fund can be unlocked without private investment,” said Derek Thomson Robert Brelsford joined Oil & Gas Journal in October 2013 as downstream technology editor after 8 years as a crude oil price and news reporter on spot crude transactions at the US Gulf Coast He holds a BA (2000) in English from Rice University and an MS (2003) in education and social policy from Northwestern University Grangemouth update (March 20) one of the key track and field venues in our sport will now be taken over by a newly formed trust Falkirk Council met on Thursday and councillors agreed to lease the venue for £1 The Grangemouth Community Sports Trust will take over the stadium and facility from June 1 this year there will still be some access for training by local clubs like Falkirk Victoria Harriers and Forth Valley Flyers Falkirk Council members also agreed that Falkirk Council will spend up to £500,000 to support the move to Grangemouth Community Sports Trust: £350,000 has been agreed for works to improve the condition of the building To further support GCST in the initial stages the Council is proposing financial assistance of up to £120,000 for running costs for any financial challenges encountered during the first two years said: ‘It’s really positive that Council agreed this week to support the Trust in their efforts to successfully take on the running of the Grangemouth Stadium including financial backing of nearly £500,000 ‘We look forward to working closely with them over the coming weeks to conclude a lease that finalises the transfer and hopefully secures the long‐term future of this facility.’ There are now some job vacancies with GCST and these are advertised on this website Jobs in Athletics Anticipating the Council meeting decision a couple of weeks ago our chief executive Colin Hutchison welcomed the move to GCST taking up the lease ‘We have worked tirelessly with the local clubs and partners to present a solution to Falkirk Council that will enable Grangemouth Stadium to stay open ‘We would welcome the proposed financial assistance from Falkirk Council to support GCST and look forward to working with the Trust and other partners to secure the stadium’s long-term future ‘As the only athletics facility in Falkirk the Stadium plays a crucial role in supporting the local athletics clubs and providing opportunities for local residents to participate in athletics and running There is great potential to widen access to the facility and ensure that it becomes an asset that the local community can be proud of.’ National Championship sprint action at Grangemouth (photo by Bobby Gavin) Read the Council report Falkirk Council are set to consider a proposal for a newly formed community trust to take over management of the Grangemouth Stadium from 1 June 2025 The proposal would see the Grangemouth Community Sports Trust (GCST) take on a one-year Full Repair and Insuring Licence with the option to extend for a further year This would allow GCST to manage the stadium while they further develop their business plan and work towards a long-term Community Asset Transfer at the same time as saving the Council an estimated £550,000 a year Falkirk Council also plan to carry out capital works worth up to £350,000 to ensure the facility is in a good condition and gives the Trust the best possible chance of success Some of these works will take place before GCST takes over the lease with other work to be completed during their first year of management The level of support being offered reflects the size of the facility and Grangemouth Stadium’s role as a key venue for athletics in Scotland Supported by scottishathletics and sportscotland GCST aims to maintain Grangemouth Stadium as a key national and local athletics venue while developing its potential for additional sports and community activities The Trust’s long-term ambition is to create a sustainable community-led model that allows the stadium to continue serving both athletes and the wider public chief executive of scottishathletics said: ‘We’ve worked tirelessly with the local clubs and partners to present a solution to Falkirk Council that will enable Grangemouth Stadium to stay open Director of Place Services with Falkirk Council this proposal would secure the immediate future of Grangemouth Stadium as a centre for national ‘It would also enable the Council to make a significant annual saving of around £550,000 which helps protect other frontline services that residents rely upon ‘The proposed initial financial support community-led model that could secure the stadium’s long-term future ‘The decision now rests with councillors on whether the community benefit lease is the best way to keep Grangemouth Stadium open while asset transfer proposals progress and to secure financial viability for the future.’ the stadium’s buildings will close from 1 April 2025 to facilitate the transition But local athletics groups – such as Falkirk Victoria Harriers and Forth Valley Flyers – will still be able to access the track The ‘Grangemouth Stadium – Community Benefit License’ report will be considered at a meeting of the Falkirk Council Executive on Thursday 3 April 2025 All oil refining in Scotland ceased on Tuesday as operations at Grangemouth ended. Today, “Grangemouth no more” could be added to the list lamenting the decline of Scotland’s industry and the loss of jobs. The letter from PetroIneos to staff, sent out at 11 o’clock this morning says, “for over 100 years the name Grangemouth has been synonymous with the refining industry, but the world has changed and the market in Scotland has been unable to support a Refinery”. Grangemouth no more. All of Scotland’s petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel needs will still be met through Grangemouth, but they will all be imported from abroad. They will just be stored and distributed from Grangemouth. The Proclaimers’ famous song is not just about the loss of heavy industry or the Highland Clearances, it is about people and the loss of livelihoods, and the breakdown of communities. Closing Grangemouth oil refinery means the direct loss of 400 jobs and redundancies which will begin tomorrow. Many other contractors could lose their jobs too, some workers at Ineos are also facing redundancy because they were contracted to the refinery side of the business. Above all, “Grangemouth no more” is hard for them to take. Making sure support mechanisms are in place for workers at the Grangemouth refinery and for anyone else in employment across Scotland Anyone who lives in or passes through central Scotland must have seen it – the Grangemouth oil refinery dominates the landscape An industrial behemoth on the Firth of Forth comprised of intermingling pipes giant cooling towers and roaring flare stacks which light the night sky orange for miles around residents and workers have taken pride in sustaining the nation’s only operating oil refinery It is hard to imagine the town of Grangemouth without the refinery; the two have been synonymous in public discourse But in a few short months it will become a striking reality - after 101 years of existence the refinery will close in the summer of 2025 a joint venture by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS and Chinese state-owned PetroChina The reason given was the refinery’s supposed lack of competitiveness globally given there are larger Another reason is that the capital expenditure to maintain its operating licence is comparatively much higher Scotland endured rapid and wide-ranging deindustrialisation moving away from an industrial manufacturing economy to a service-based one The magnitude of that transition was keenly felt across the nation given the deliberate pace and scale of deindustrialisation in the 1970s and 80s and the absence of any plan to support workers and communities in that transition From the shipyards of the Clyde to ‘Silicon Glen’s’ microchip manufacturers identity and sense of community through their work But with much of that industrial capacity either gone or severely diminished it was the working class who powered the nation’s economic engine that were left to pick up the pieces and suffer the long-term negative consequences Today, we see that Scotland’s former industrial heartlands in Glasgow and the West of Scotland suffer higher rates of deprivation, higher rates of unemployment and lower life expectancy Scotland’s drug-death crisis has brought this into full view Many men and women got caught up in this socioeconomic transition succumbing to ‘deaths of despair’ thanks to unheeded social concerns and a lack of compassion and opportunity in the aftermath of deindustrialisation if we are to avoid the very worst of deindustrialisation for the community and its workers we need a concerted plan of action and sufficient resource: a genuinely just transition the issue of the refinery’s closure has reached the top of the political agenda with the Scottish and UK governments committing £25m and £200m respectively to support future investment and the Project Willow initiative examining what a green industrial future looks like for Grangemouth post-refinery These are crucial steps and show some lessons have been learned from the last half century and they are likely to be both anxious and frustrated with decision-makers workers are not empowered in the same way as many of their European counterparts in decision-making or having a direct stake in ownership and control judgements are almost exclusively handed down from top to bottom Scotland is hardly a model of industrial democracy Not only are key decisions about Scotland’s economic future being made over the head of workers locally the fact that the refinery is partially owned by the Chinese state-owned PetroChina means that decisions over Grangemouth’s future are not even being made in the UK but in Beijing sectoral and national-level bodies like Forth Valley Regional Economic Partnership have neither the resource nor the capability to effectively intervene on behalf of workers or the local community There is a desperate need for a clearer governing structure across all Scotland’s regions Because none of this was clear or established in the long decades of industrial relations between workers and plant owners in Grangemouth fearing unemployment and suffering a fate similar to the many workers of Scotland’s former proud and esteemed industries that preceded oil and gas have worked as hard as they have initially to secure an extension to the life of the refinery and now any future for industry in Grangemouth No worker in Scotland should be made to feel that losing their job is an existential threat to them and their community Currently the Scottish government has an institutional support structure to help quell some of these worker concerns PACE The Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is an initiative designed to offer workers and employers support and advice to deal with real or potential closure situations by coordinating with a range of public sector agencies PACE was originally intended to intervene before redundancies become unavoidable but this requires companies to engage at a much earlier stage than has been the case in most closure situations Given the emphasis placed on a just transition there is scope to build on the experience of PACE to develop enhanced support mechanisms for workers across Scotland in transitioning industries This could take the form of a ‘Just Transition Labour Exchange’ to more effectively coordinate job-to-job moves and provide quality retraining opportunities The new body could identify and assist in creating pathways for workers currently employed in high carbon sectors into emerging low carbon industries so they can make that transition seamlessly without the risk of unemployment or financial insecurity for where redundancy is an unfortunate consequence of industrial transitions across Scotland the safety net should be strengthened to protect industrial workers under the threat of redundancy from financial insecurity should they lose their job charting a new direction on replacement rates for out-of-work benefits The UK languishes around the bottom of the list of western nations in the percentage of earnings a newly redundant worker can receive in out-of-work benefits (as low as 12 per cent of average earnings for a single person unemployed for two months) to sustain their household’s financial security following the immediate economic shock of losing a job Assuming this newly redundant worker is also receiving universal credit the overall replacement rate does come closer to a third of average earnings from the US (34 per cent) to France (67.8 per cent) other countries sustain significantly higher equivalent replacement rates for out-of-work benefits while maintaining overall more dynamic economies the Scottish government should look to ramp up investment in (re-)training schemes to help redundant workers particularly those employed in vulnerable high carbon sectors back as quickly as possible into productive employment Making sure these support mechanisms are in place for workers at the Grangemouth refinery we need to prepare ourselves for similar localised transitions in the future and social security to avert the social devastation wrought by unjust transitions of our past The closure of Grangemouth oil refinery is our first big test of that just transition Charity registration number: England and Wales 800065 Scotland SC046557 - Company number: England and Wales 2292601 Website by Supercool The closure of Grangemouth signals a warning for industrial jobs across the oil and gas heartlands of Aberdeen general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress outlined concerns about the knock-impact of refinery closure and the need for an urgent industrial strategy to save jobs “For us, Grangemouth was the test of a ‘just transition’,” she told the P&J’s politics podcast, The Stooshie, published on Wednesday. The long-promised “just transition” refers to government promises to ease the move from oil and gas-reliant jobs to greener energy Ms Foyer said politicians need to step up efforts or risk livelihoods after a “valiant” campaign by the Unite union which offered cheaper solutions for Scotland’s last refinery “What we’ve seen is our governments’ utter failure “If that’s their idea of a just transition our movement has grave concerns about the whole of oil and gas Ms Foyer found positives in the Labour government’s GB Energy utility investment project Petroineos said in September that refining activities at Grangemouth would end in 2025 hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies have been made First Minister John Swinney said the closure was a sad day for Scotland “The Scottish Government will work to secure a future for the Grangemouth community and agreement to the Acorn Carbon Capture project is essential,” he added said Scotland is the “victim of industrial vandalism” Mr Leishman told the Commons: “I don’t want anyone in this chamber to dare mention a ‘just transition’ because we all know that the Conservatives when in power and the SNP currently in Holyrood did nothing to avert this catastrophic decision happening.” Listen to the full 20-minute interview on The Stooshie Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments Anas Sarwar has no need to go seeking trouble or enmity anywhere else be forgiven for over-reacting to the closure of the Petroineos oil refinery in his constituency but not for the manner in which he has done so Labour’s response to this “industrial disaster” is the sort of thing that will doom the party at next year’s Holyrood election Leishman says it is a “legitimate question” to ask whether the British government — a Labour government — cares as much about industrial job losses in Scotland as Reacting to the news that oil refining at Grangemouth has ended Alba Party Leader Kenny MacAskill said:  “This is a dark day for Scotland and a betrayal of the workforce by Labour they promised to save the refinery but have gone back on that pledge whilst at the same saving British Steel in Scunthorpe “Labour have cynically pocketed the votes of the workers and then abandoned them once elected This is a betrayal for which Labour will never be forgiven “Scotland is now the only major oil producing nation in the world not to have its own refining capacity “The skills of the workforce have been sacrificed and Grangemouth reduced to an import export terminal “This is the cost of the Union and demonstrates how Scotland is powerless without Independence “Independence is required so we can protect what is left of Scottish industry and put Scottish workers first.” We will use your contact details to send you information on the topics you have requested. Any data we gather will be used in accordance with our privacy policy at www.albaparty.org/privacy_policy. To exercise your legal data rights, email: [email protected] Falkirk Council has today welcomed the news that Grangemouth Stadium is set to remain open for 2025/26 with the new Grangemouth Community Sports Trust preparing to take over the venue The Trust, which includes Scottish Athletics, has agreed to take on the management of the stadium under a Full Repair and Insuring licence from 1 April 2025. In addition, it is working on progressing a longer-term Community Asset Transfer The move ensures continued access for the community while Trust partners develop their business plan and apply to secure external funding To give the transfer the best chance of success Council officers have committed to invest up to £350,000 to make the Stadium wind and water tight as well as statutory compliant £50,000 of revenue enabling support has been committed to help cover reactive maintenance obligations and establishment costs In support of the longer-term asset transfer of the Stadium up to £1m of funding to undertake further improvements will be considered by Councillors at the Council's budget meeting on 6 March 2025 Securing the immediate future of Grangemouth Stadium is a major achievement and reflects our commitment to work collaboratively with partners to deliver sustainable solutions for the buildings we can no longer afford to operate "I want to thank all involved for their hard work in getting us to this stage The agreement ensures the athletics community and local community can continue to access to the facilities while work progress on the asset transfer The Council's Strategic Property Review (SPR) has seen over 40 Expressions of Interest and CAT applications submitted for Council properties since it launched in 2023 compared to less than five community transfers in the previous 26 years Over £100,000 has been allocated to help groups cover legal and business case development costs through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and all properties under consideration have been surveyed so groups fully understand their responsibilities The Council has also committed to making assets wind and water tight as well as statutory compliant before transfer and has created a £3 million Capital Enablement Fund to support investment in transferred properties Council officers have actively engaged with community groups attending meetings and offering hands-on guidance to facilitate the transfer process This approach has ensured properties are placed in the hands of organisations that can develop them to their full potential The SPR is expected to save the Council over £3 million annually and reduce backlog maintenance costs by £29m It will also cut the Council’s carbon emissions by 2,316 tonnes (14.8% reduction) Recognising that carbon will still be emitted from buildings transferring to community ownership the Council’s Enablement Fund offers funding to groups to help them improve the energy efficiency of CAT buildings ensuring carbon savings can still be achieved across the area £874,317 from the £3 million fund has been allocated to support groups with repairs and improvements including new heating systems and the installation of solar panels and ensuring properties are in good condition before transfer we are giving communities the confidence to take on and improve these facilities ensuring the buildings can thrive under community ownership As well as discussing the Stadium and the assets transferred to date, the meeting of Falkirk Council on Thursday 30 January 2025 agreed to extend the deadline for closure of Kinneil Museum to 31 March 2026 It’s hoped that a CAT or Alternative Delivery Model can be brought forward in advance of this Councillors also noted the unexpected submission of an Expression of Interest for Carron Gymnastics Centre Officers will now evaluate the application while also reviewing the Council’s proposal to relocate its gymnastics programme to The Mariner Centre and Larbert High School and a report will be presented to councillors in June 2025 for further consideration Tomorrow (Thursday 13 February 2025), a further four CAT applications will be reviewed at a meeting of the Executive marking another step in the Council’s continued efforts to support community-led management of local facilities The NEN – North Edinburgh News The community media resource for north Edinburgh Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email has informed staff that all oil refining work at Grangemouth had ended Workers were told by email yesterday: ‘With the shutdown of CDU2 today Grangemouth Refinery will cease processing crude oil and the era of refining at Grangemouth comes to an end.’ The news of the final confirmation of the site has come as a hammer blow to staff and is the latest nail in the coffin of Scottish industry Reacting to the news that oil refining at Grangemouth has ended Alba Party Leader Kenny MacAskill said: “This is a dark day for Scotland and a betrayal of the workforce by Labour The UK Labour Westminster government and the SNP Holyrood government have yet to make an official statement on the end of oil refining at Grangemouth and website in this browser for the next time I comment scottishathletics welcomes the proposal from Falkirk Council to provide £1m capital investment required in Grangemouth Stadium under the Community Asset Transfer Model which we hope will enable the Stadium to remain operational This is in addition to a £50,000 revenue-enabling support from Falkirk Council to support the transition to the Grangemouth Community Sports Trust entering a Full Repair and Insuring Licence from 1 April 2025 a contingency of £50,000 has been committed to support any critical mechanical and electrical or fabric replacements should they be required to avoid the immediate closure of the facility whilst the Community Asset Transfer is progressed The Trustees of Grangemouth Community Sports Trust scottishathletics and the local athletics clubs will now work with Falkirk Council to finalise the Trust’s business plan secure the assurances required from Falkirk Council to proceed and seek commitments from event organisers and users to utilise the facility in 2025 Whilst this is an extremely positive development the future of Grangemouth Stadium is still in the balance Funding requires to be finalised and committed wider use of the facility is crucial to ensure the Stadium remains viable under the operation of Grangemouth Community Sports Trust The Trust and partners not only need to consider the Stadium’s immediate future in 2025 but understandably need confidence in their ability to continue operating the Stadium if the initial licence to occupy proves to be successful We are hopeful this can be a success and are keen to collaborate with other interested stakeholders to ensure a long term sustainable future for Grangemouth Staduim Any group interested in using Grangemouth Stadium in 2025 is urged to contact Grangemouth Community Sports Trust by 17 February on the following email address admin@scottishathletics.org.uk The Trust would also welcome urgent discussions with any potential partners and sponsors