LABOUR have been told they must “pull out all the stops” to save Grangemouth – after the SNP unveiled a multimillion pound investment in plans to save the refinery.
The trade union Unite has welcomed the £25 million pledged by the Scottish Government but said workers “need more than this to fix the situation”.
John Swinney announced on Tuesday that the Scottish Government was raiding its wind farm sale fund ScotWind to take its total investment in a “just transition” for the site to £87m.
The cash is intended to expedite proposals from Project Willow, an ongoing study to find alternative uses for the oil refinery, which will close between May and next August, resulting in an expected 400 jobs being lost.
Unite wants ministers to help turn the site into a factory to make sustainable aviation fuel, an eco-friendly alternative to power aeroplanes.
Sharon Graham (above), Unite’s general secretary, said: “The extra money from the Scottish Government is welcome but workers in Grangemouth have already been let down and we will need more that this to fix the situation.
"Both the UK and Scottish governments must now pull out all the stops to ensure that we do not lose these refinery workers and their incredible skills.”
She demanded both governments stop “dancing around their handbags” and back the union’s plans for the refinery, adding: “Unite has a clear plan for the site to produce sustainable air fuel and these workers have the skills to do that.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves (above) has previously hailed sustainable aviation fuel as a “game changer” which could help cut carbon emissions – even while expanding Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport.
Unite’s Scottish secretary Derek Thomson said Scotland faced an “economic earthquake” if the refinery was allowed to close, adding: “We are facing an estimated shock to the economy of up to £4 billion over the next decade before any of the jobs at scale promised through Project Willow will see the light of day”.
Scotland's acting Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: "We agree with Unite the Union. We are doing all we can within the limits of our powers and resources. Grangemouth's workforce needs the UK Government to do the same."
The UK Government was approached for comment.
