Wednesday 20 June 2012

180 Coryton workers to lose jobs

About 180 workers at the Coryton refinery will be made redundant next week, its administrators announced. The news comes after PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) failed to find a buyer for the Essex site earlier this year.

Swiss owner Petroplus held a meeting earlier this week with the employees and the Unite union at Coryton to explain their plans about the redundancy.

PwC said they are working with various parties who have shown interest in buying the site, however, it is not likely to be sold as a refinery.

Unite's National Officer, Linda McCulloch said: "We believe that state aid should be forthcoming in the short term to tide over the plant until a viable buyer can be found. PwC have moved too fast in announcing the job losses.

"It is very disappointing that this key refinery faces closure and is devastating to the 850 workers threatened with the loss of their jobs and also to the wider local economy."

When ELN questioned if the bid made by a former Russian Minister was ruled out, both DECC and PricewaterhouseCoopers failed to comment.