Refinery closure not expected to affect Caithness fuel supplies
CAITHNESS is unlikely to be affected by the planned shutdown of the Grangemouth refinery as most of the fuel used in the far north is imported from North Lincolnshire.
Grangemouth oil refinery and petrochemical plant is to be closed until Tuesday after workers threatened to go on strike.
But, despite the 48-hour action planned for this weekend being called off, operators Ineos said it would be hazardous to reopen the site until next week.
Simpsons Oils, which provides fuel to some petrol stations in Caithness but mainly concentrates on off-road and marine usage, said the majority of fuel comes from the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Immingham.
A spokesman for the company said: "Genuinely you will find nowhere in the north will be affected by the shutdown at Grangemouth as most of the products are imported from Immingham," he said.
"From what we have heard, we don’t think it is going to be a big issue, it may change but it’s unlikely."
Ineos has previously warned that Grangemouth is losing £10 million a month and will close in 2017 without investment and cost-cutting which has led to strike action.
However, Ineos said it would not open the site again unless it received assurances from workers they would not strike again during the winter.
First Minister Alex Salmond said the Scottish Government will continue to assist with talks and impress the importance of a resolution upon both management and Unite the union.
"Grangemouth has a long-term future as a successful petrochemical site in Scotland but this will only be possible if underlying issues with management and unions are resolved," he said.
"Governments themselves cannot force or compel agreement between unions and management – they have to do that for themselves.
"As things stands, there is no threat to fuel distribution or the Forties pipeline.
"But what is important – and what now is at stake – is the future of Grangemouth as a chemical complex and a refinery in Scotland, and that can only be brought about by investment in the plant.
"The Scottish Government is happy to assist with such an investment package but before that can happen there needs to be goodwill on both sides between management and the unions."