Energy Minister Michael Shanks has called on Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to be “part of the solution”
Saltend Chemicals Park (Image: Chiltern Vital Group)
Manufacturing sector workers and their families will “look on in horror” amid this week’s shock move by chemicals giant Ineos to mothball three factories near Hull. Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, the national secretary of GMB – among the country’s largest unions – said there had been warnings to Government about the country’s “deeply uncompetitive gas prices”.
On Tuesday, Ineos announced it was idling three facilities at the Saltend Chemicals Park, with its multi-billionaire owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe – a vocal critic of UK energy policy – citing gas prices 12 times those in the US and eight times those of China. The move threatens the future of about 245 direct jobs, and an estimated several thousand more in the wider area.
Charlotte Brumpton-Childs, GMB National Secretary, said: “This Government has talked about the need for reindustrialisation – but at the same time huge manufacturing operations are closing due to sky-high energy costs. GMB has repeatedly warned UK industry will suffer from the country’s deeply uncompetitive gas prices. Workers from across the manufacturing sector – and their families – will look on in horror as yet more vital jobs are ripped from the communities that need them.”
The developments at Ineos’ Saltend operation come after Sir Jim warned in October last year that the UK industry was at a “tipping point” and called for urgent action. This week Energy minister Michael Shanks said he was calling on Sir Jim “to be part of the solution” and work with the Government on its reindustrialisation plans.
Mr Shanks said: “We’re doing a lot of work across government on the chemicals industry at the moment, but I would call for Jim Ratcliffe to be part of the solution to building the reindustrialisation of Britain He has an important role to play in that, and I think he should work with us to make sure we’re protecting as many jobs as possible.”
A spokesperson for px Group, which owns and operates Saltend Chemicals Park, said: “We are aware of yesterday’s announcement by Ineos regarding the mothballing of its Acetyls manufacturing operations at Saltend Chemicals Park. As owner and operator of the park, we remain focused on the safe, secure and reliable delivery of site-wide infrastructure and services to all partners, including Ineos. We will continue to liaise with all site partners as the situation develops.”
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