1,000 jobs at risk over fuel sales

25/01/12

By Chris Gibbings

Moves to put one of the country's biggest oil refineries, in Essex, in to administration has put 1,000 jobs at risk and prompted fears for fuel supplies.

Coryton refinery halted sales and told staff it could not tell when supplies would restart. The former BP-owned refinery, which supplies a fifth of the fuel for London and the South East, has a capacity of 175,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The Unite union's national officer, Linda McCulloch, said 1,000 jobs were risked but Unite believes the business can be saved through action by the owners, Zurich-based Petroplus, and the Government.

However, Petroplus said talks with lenders broke down so it has appointed a receiver to the Essex plant.

The UK has seven other refineries: Fawley, near Southampton; Milford Haven and Pembroke, both in Pembrokeshire; South Killingholme and Lindsey, both in North Lincolnshire; and Grangemouth, near Falkirk.