A STATEMENT today (Tuesday 24 April) from the receivers responsible for the Thurrock oil refinery whose parent company went bankrupt, that it will close unless a successful deal is completed within one month, has been described as a stark warning by the local Euro MP who has helped lead efforts to save the refinery.
Labour’s Richard Howitt MEP has called on all interests to maintain confidence in efforts to achieve a buyout to save the Coryton oil refinery in Thurrock.
The Euro MP was responding to an interview by the Receiver to the Reuters news agency, which suggested that a long-term deal needed to be completed by the time a temporary three month “tolling arrangement” to keep the refinery open expires in May.
Richard Howitt MEP said:
“We have always known that there was a continuing danger of closure, but it is essential all parties ‘talk up’ a rescue plan in order to maintain the confidence of possible buyers or investors.
“Previously we had been informed that the temporary arrangement could be extended on a rolling month-by-month basis, but today’s statement exposes that there is commercial pressure against achieving this.
“The best outcome is that a long-term rescue deal is successfully negotiated and for nearly 1,000 workers in Thurrock, only the best is good enough.”
The European Union summit to discuss the crisis organised by the European Commission following lobbying by Richard Howitt MEP is set to take place on May 15th.
