At a demonstration staged at Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Killingholme, Lincolnshire, employees voiced their discontent with the current government. They accused ministers of inertia during a period of uncertainty for the refinery. The future of the refinery has been unclear since the Prax Group administration fell apart in June. Currently, the refinery is operated under the purview of the Official Receiver. The initial workforce has significantly reduced, with around 255 employees still on site and an additional 125 facing redundancy in the coming weeks. A job fair has been scheduled in Immingham to assist those impacted by the crisis.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks assured in the House of Commons that the government intends to foster investment at the troubled site. Dave Smith, a union representative and employee at Prax, conveyed the concerns of the workforce. He emphasized the significance of fuel security and appealed for rapid governmental intervention. A subcontractor at the refinery, Anne Holmes, underscored the wider impact of the potential closure of the refinery, a catastrophe that could affect a supply chain of approximately a thousand people.
Brigg and Immingham’s Conservative MP, Martin Vickers, has implored the government to take an assertive stance, revealing that at least two investors have shown interest in the acquisition of the site. Sharon Graham, the General Secretary of the Unite union, demanded a green fuel investment strategy, chastising the government’s inaction in the oil and gas sector. The Insolvency Service is presently assessing multiple offers for the takeover of the refinery. In related news, a jobs fair organised by Grimsby Jobcentre at the Immingham Civic Centre saw involvement from companies like British Steel, Myenergi, and various other organisations looking to support affected workers.
The government has also implemented a training guarantee to support workers secure new job opportunities in these demanding circumstances.
This article was adapted by The Lincoln Post from original reporting by www.bbc.com.
