Oil refinery workers rally outside Parliament

Lindsey Oil Refinery workers are calling on the government to step in and stop the site from being split up

Workers are rallying outside Parliament in an attempt to save a Lincolnshire oil refinery.

Lindsey Oil Refinery in North Killingholme was placed in liquidation in June after its owner Prax Group went into administration, putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite union, said: "It is a disgrace that the government still has no plan to transition oil and gas workers into green jobs."

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said workers had been "let down" by the owners and added it was working with union to support those affected.

The government reiterated it would fund what they called a "Training Guarantee" for workers "to ensure they are supported to find jobs in the growing clean energy sector".

Speaking at the rally, Bradley Goodhand, 37, a training manager at the refinery, said: "All I see is job losses and not job creations."

Mr Goodhand, who has been working at the plant for 15 years, added: "There's very few jobs like that [fuel production] around our area."

He said closure of the site meant "taking a massive pay cut or working away from my family".

In August, Vivergo, one of two UK bioethanol plants, ceased production and began laying off its 160 employees.

The site's closure could impact 450 site employees, the union said

Mr Goodhand said: "The opportunities that I've had... Potentially, my son won't have the same opportunities.

"The apprentices [at Lindsey Oil Refinery] have had to try and find placements elsewhere so it's affecting the future generations as well as ourselves."

Dave Smith, 42, an operator at the plant, said it is "worrying times" and he would have to sell his house if he lost his job.

"There's stress on the family, I have three daughters. I worry about being able to provide for them," he said.

In August, Martin Vickers, MP for Brigg and Immingham, and North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham said the site had interest from a potential buyer but added they could not share further details.

Workers are calling for urgent government action to keep the site operational and prevent it from being split off into parts.

Since operations halted at the refinery, which produces petrol, diesel and jet fuel, the UK's domestic fuel supply has reduced by at least 10%, according to Unite.

'Decisive action needed'

The refinery's owner went into administration after recording losses of about £75m over the course of three years.

The site's closure could impact 450 direct employees, 500 contract workers, and potentially thousands more across the supply chain.

Ms Graham said: "The government must take decisive action to secure a sale and protect jobs at the refinery."

"If it closed it would be the second British refinery that we have lost in less than a year. This would not be acceptable.

"The Lindsey refinery is critical national infrastructure... its future must be guaranteed."

A DESNZ spokesperson said: "Our thoughts are with the workers at Lindsey oil refinery, who have been let down by the owners. We are working closely with unions to ensure workers are supported.

"The Official Receiver has received a range of bids, and is considering if any are credible.

"We will also fund a Training Guarantee for refinery workers, to ensure they have the skills they need and are supported to find jobs in the growing clean energy workforce."

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