Grangemouth refinery buyer talk not credible, says Petroineos

Mr Hardie said workers at the refinery were committed to managing the end of its operations safely, adding: “The work that the Grangemouth workforce have provided over the last hundred years is without question – but this is the energy transition in action.

“It can come as no surprise that a 100-year-old refinery will struggle in an environment where demand for its product is falling.

“We have been crystal clear from day one why we are having to make these really difficult decisions.

“Our focus is on getting the terminal ready and our focus is on Project Willow and making sure we create a platform for longer-term manufacturing to occur in the Grangemouth cluster.”

Workers rallied outside Holyrood on Thursday to demand the refinery remains open.

Sharon Graham from the Unite union said Grangemouth could be sustainable as a site producing aviation fuel, calling on the Scottish and UK governments to help change the direction.

She also said the refinery could still have a bright future which would see new investors come forward.

Ms Graham wrote to UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband last week saying that the refinery could be converted to produce sustainable aviation fuel “relatively easily”, something Petroineos rejects.

Later in the week, she told MSPs the company’s books gave a “distorted picture” of the financial situation at the plant, which the firm also rejected.