Government 'declines refinery plea' (From Enfield Independent)

Government 'declines refinery plea'

6:49am Friday 15th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

The Government will not apply to the European Commission for permission to use state funds to prop up an oil refinery, it has been reported.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change made the decision regarding the Coryton oil refinery in Essex, where 850 jobs are at risk after Coryton's parent company went into liquidation, the BBC reported.

Unions and refinery supporters had pushed ministers to consider putting up cash to keep the refinery going until administrators can find a buyer as its closure would drain £100 million from the economy.

But ministers said overcapacity in the refining industry meant it would not be sustainable to provide government help.

Unite previously called on ministers to follow the example of the French government and give state aid to keep Coryton running until a buyer could be found.

Thurrock council commissioned an economic impact assessment on the closure or change of use of the site, which found it would cost £30 million in wages, £26 million in contractor costs, £6 million in locally sourced materials, £40 million spent on chemicals and utilities, and £5 million in business rates.