‘Grangemouth no more’: Decline of Scotland's industry and hundreds of jobs lost

In Letter From America the Proclaimers sang “Bathgate no more, Linwood no more, Methil no more, Irvine no more”.

Today, “Grangemouth no more” could be added to the list lamenting the decline of Scotland’s industry and the loss of jobs.

The letter from PetroIneos to staff, sent out at 11 o’clock this morning says, “for over 100 years the name Grangemouth has been synonymous with the refining industry, but the world has changed and the market in Scotland has been unable to support a Refinery”. Grangemouth no more.

Scotland

All oil refining in Scotland ends as Grangemouth operations cease

Petroineos, which runs the refinery, notified staff by email that all oil refining work had ended.

All of Scotland’s petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel needs will still be met through Grangemouth, but they will all be imported from abroad. They will just be stored and distributed from Grangemouth.

The Proclaimers’ famous song is not just about the loss of heavy industry or the Highland Clearances, it is about people and the loss of livelihoods, and the breakdown of communities.

Closing Grangemouth oil refinery means the direct loss of 400 jobs and redundancies which will begin tomorrow. Many other contractors could lose their jobs too, some workers at Ineos are also facing redundancy because they were contracted to the refinery side of the business.

Above all, “Grangemouth no more” is hard for them to take.