The Lindsey Oil Refinery is set to shut down later this year after attempts to secure a buyer fell through, putting more than 400 jobs at risk.
The closure follows the collapse of the site’s parent company, Prax Group, which entered liquidation last month. Employees at the North Lincolnshire refinery were informed of the decision yesterday.
A letter sent to staff confirmed that redundancies would be “inevitable”, with operations expected to cease after 31 October. Several hundred external contractor roles have reportedly already been lost.
The Department for Energy has confirmed that no viable offers were made to purchase the site. In a statement, Energy Minister Michael Shanks said, “We are deeply disappointed with the untenable position in which the owners left Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery. Our sympathies are with the workers, their families and the local community.”
Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn criticised the Prax Group’s handling of the situation, accusing the company of acquiring the site “with no experience of refineries” and of advising her against seeking government support prior to issuing a notice of administration.
The refinery, located in Killingholme, has played a key role in the UK’s fuel supply infrastructure since opening in 1968. Its closure is expected to have a significant impact on the local economy, where the site has been a major employer for decades.
Operations will be wound down over the coming months, with the final closure scheduled after the end of October.
The government has not indicated whether additional support will be offered to affected workers or the surrounding area.
