The SNP is too busy infighting to deliver for the workers at
Grangemouth, Scottish Labour has said.
Under questioning from Scottish Labour, the Minister for Energy,
Just Transition and Fair Work refused to shed any light on the
SNP government's discussions with Petroineos and failed to
confirm whether she had met with any other potential investors to
discuss the site's future.
Scottish Labour's economy spokesperson Daniel Johnson questioned
why refining is still set to stop by 2025 when the most recent
accounts from Petroineos show that the site is profitable, and it
has now secured critical investment in the hydrocracker –
however, the Minister did not answer.
Scottish Labour has warned that losing the jobs, skills and
infrastructure at this site would do immense damage to Scotland's
transition to net zero.
Given the lack of leadership from either of Scotland's
governments, Daniel Johnson has written to PetroChina seeking a
meeting to discuss the future of the yard.
Commenting, Scottish Labour Economy spokesperson Daniel
Johnson said: "Grangemouth is one of Scotland's key
strategic assets, but neither of Scotland's governments seems to
be serious about protecting its future.
“Both the SNP and the Tories are sleepwalking towards disaster
and workers are set to pay the price.
“The SNP is mired in chaos and scandal, and it is too busy
infighting to deliver for the workers at Grangemouth or the
people of Scotland.
“The jobs, skills, and infrastructure the site provides are
central to Scotland's economy and they will be key to unleashing
Scotland's clean energy potential.
“Scottish Labour will stand up for workers at Grangemouth and
leave no stone unturned in the fight to safe these jobs.
“Labour's Green Prosperity Plan will make Grangemouth home to the
industries of the future, with a decarbonisation hub and linked
carbon capture and storage project.
“Both of our governments must get round the table to discuss both
urgent action and a real long-term plan to keep Grangemouth
working.”
ENDS
Notes
Petroineos (Discussions)
-
Daniel Johnson
(Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
To ask the Scottish Government
whether it will provide an update on what discussions it has had
with Petroineos and trades unions about refining capacity at
Grangemouth. (S6O-03360)
The Minister for Energy, Just
Transition and Fair Work ()
The Scottish Government
continues to engage extensively with Petroineos. I most recently
met the chief executive officers of Petroineos on 27 March, when
I made clear the Scottish Government's commitment to continue to
engage constructively with the business. Petroineos and trade
unions are also members of the Grangemouth future industry board
just transition leadership forum, which I convened on 28
March.
Ministers met Unite the union
and the Scottish Trades Union Congress on the morning of the
import terminal announcement. Outwith the Grangemouth future
industry board, I met unions in Falkirk on 15 March at a Just
Transition Commission round-table meeting, which included
representation from the wider Grangemouth community, Petroineos,
unions and the local authority. I will next meet Unite in June to
further discuss this very important matter.
Daniel
Johnson
I thank the minister for that
detailed answer.
Here is what we know: the most
recent accounts from Petroineos show that the site is profitable,
and it has now secured investment in the hydrocracker, which was
previously seen to be critical, but the plan to stop refining in
2025 is still in place.
What is the minister's
understanding of what factors motivate the commitment to
disinvestment? Has she discussed those matters directly with
PetroChina, given that the Government has met it and it is
bankrolling much of this, or, indeed, any other potential
investors? Most critically, is the Government's objective to
secure refining at Grangemouth beyond 2025 or simply to mitigate
the effects of decisions that are being made elsewhere?
Mr Johnson has raised really
important points. I have to point to the fact that Petroineos is
making commercial decisions, and it has actually outlined them.
It would not be fair to air in public what those commercial
decisions have been based on because that is confidential.
One of the key aims of the
Scottish Government, working in partnership with the United
Kingdom Government and, indeed, the wider Grangemouth community,
is to see how we can secure the refinery for the future. We are
keen to look at whether it could become a biorefinery, and we are
looking at ways in which we can influence the UK Government to
bring down the hydroprocessed esters and fatty acids—HEFA—cap so
that it could be one of the first movers in sustainable aviation
fuel. That is one of the areas in which there are real
opportunities for the refinery. Our colleagues at Petroineos
agree with that, and we are working towards it.
