MACASKILL CHALLENGES PRIME MINISTER TO SAVE GRANGEMOUTH
AT A TIME OF GLOBAL ENERGY INSECURITY
Alba Depute Leader Kenny MacAskill MP has today (Wednesday) challenged the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP to take urgent and decisive action to save Scotland’s only oil refinery at Grangemouth from closure and to work to secure the necessary investment which will save 500 direct jobs and 2,000 contractors jobs and secure a sustainable future for Grangemouth beyond 2025. He is also pointing out that “you cannot have energy security from oil production which is refined abroad” and is underlining the importance of Grangemouth oil refinery to the country’s energy security.
Following his exchange with the Prime Minister Kenny MacAskill MP said:
“Grangemouth oil refinery is profitable and crucial to our energy security. As global tensions rise and with ships being attacked in the Red Sea the Prime Minister cannot be bombing the Houthis and yet be blasé about Scotland’s refinery. Shipping oil in and out presents a clear risk to energy supplies. The simple truth is that you cannot have energy security from oil production which is refined abroad.
“Grangemouth offers that energy security and it is why investment to increase its profitability three-fold is so essential.
“It is not warm words we need from the Prime Minister but urgent and decisive action to save Scotland’s only oil refinery.
“It is simply unacceptable for the UK Treasury to benefit from North Sea oil and gas to the tune of billions of pounds in tax receipts and yet fail to make the modest £60-80 million investment to restart the Hydrocracker.
“At a time of global energy insecurity Scotland’s refinery cannot close. Grangemouth is vital to our energy future and along with the workers and Unite the union I will continue to fight for its long term future.”
ENDS