The Grangemouth refinery has now ceased processing crude oil, its owner Petroineos has confirmed.
In September last year the company said the refining activities would cease in 2025 as it transitions to becoming an import terminal for finished fuels.
In recent months there have been concerns for employment in the area and discussions with governments in Edinburgh and London about the site’s future.
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Iain Hardie, regional head of legal and external affairs, said: “Grangemouth refinery is no longer processing crude oil. Petroineos has invested £50 million in creating a modern import and distribution terminal capable of receiving finished fuels by sea for onward distribution to customers around the country.
“From today, we will be importing all the products necessary to meet Scotland’s demand for transport fuels.”
He continued: “We would like to pay tribute to the workforce here. Our colleagues have shown incredible commitment, dignity and resilience during months of uncertainty regarding the future of this facility, through the consultation period, phased shutdown and the start of refinery decommissioning.
“It has been a challenging period but their professionalism has ensured security of fuel supply to our customers across Scotland and beyond.”
Unite, the union which represents refinery workers warned Scottish Labour and the SNP would face a backlash at the ballot box.
Sharon Graham Unite general secretary said: “The UK and Scottish governments have utterly failed to protect refinery jobs at Grangemouth and thousands face losing their jobs as oil refining in Scotland ends.
“Highly-skilled, well-paid workers, are being thrown on an industrial scrapheap. Starmer and Swinney have allowed one of the worst self-inflicted blows to happen in generations and they will face the electoral consequences.”
“The job cuts are entirely unnecessary. There are projects like SAF production which can be accelerated to protect jobs and those opportunities must not be lost. It would pave the way for Grangemouth to become a world leader in green aviation.”
“For all the talk, nothing has been done and both governments have effectively allowed China to shutdown Scotland’s capacity to refine fuel, as it hopes to use Grangemouth as an import hub. Workers will not forget or forgive.”
Derek Thomson Unite Scottish secretary said: “The first wave of redundancies are taking place at Grangemouth and with it the historic end of oil refining in Scotland.
”John Swinney and Anas Sarwar will face the wrath of voters for their broken promises to the workers and the people of Grangemouth.
"Anas Sarwar pledged hundreds of millions to save the refinery and to fund a transition to renewable industries under a Labour government. Instead, not one job will be saved at the refinery, not one job will be created for years by Project Willow, and not one penny of the £200m National Wealth Fund can be unlocked without private investment.”
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