Grangemouth closure nothing short of economic crisis
The Deputy First Minister made the comments in a ministerial statement in Holyrood on Wednesday, just a day after Grangemouth's owner Petroineos confirmed the refinery has ceased processing crude oil.
The industrial site in central Scotland was the last oil refinery operating north of the border.
'The decision by Petro Ineos is nothing short of an economic crisis,' Forbes told MSPs.
'And we need the UK government to work with us to respond quickly, as we know that it can.'
READ MORE: Crude images and graffiti spray-painted onto 150-year-old Scottish cathedral
She added: 'It's a very sad day for Grangemouth and for Scotland, and we are deeply sorry for the workers and the wider community.'
In recent months, hundreds of workers have taken voluntary redundancy while a number of compulsory redundancies have also been made.
'The decision of last September [to close the refinery] was and is premature,' Forbes said.
'It jeopardises our transition to net zero, negatively impacts the Scottish economy and leaves us reliant on imported fuel. We have continually called on the UK Government to do more, to intervene and to stop this needless act of economic vandalism.
(Image: PA)'If they can intervene at Scunthorpe, then it is surely necessary in Grangemouth.'
She added: 'The UK Government could have chosen to underpin operations of the refinery to bridge the transition to new technologies, or as we've repeatedly called for, intervention to enable sustainable aviation fuel production at Grangemouth.'
Petroineos has said the refinery is loss-making and has rejected claims from unions that the site could easily transition into a hub for producing sustainable aviation fuel.
In London today to meet Michael Shanks and get an update from Scottish and UK agencies on the work of our joint investment task force for the Grangemouth Industrial Cluster. There's been a good deal of commercial interest in the opportunities published in the Project Willow study pic.twitter.com/apWhayeFs1 — Gillian Martin (@GillianMSP) April 30, 2025
On Wednesday, UK energy minister Michael Shanks and Scottish Energy Secretary Gillian Martin (above) met to discuss the joint work both administrations are undertaking.
'There's been a good deal of commercial interest in the opportunities published in the Project Willow study,' she claimed afterwards.
The significant report commissioned by the Scottish and UK governments, known as Project Willow, aims to chart a future for the site in low-carbon energy.
But the report said this would require around £3.5 billion of private investment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
17 minutes ago
- The National
Palestinian shop 'abruptly evicted' from Edinburgh home after 12 years
Hadeel, a fair trade not-for-profit shop which exclusively sells goods made by Palestinians, has been operating in the Scottish capital for more than 20 years. Run by the UK charity Palcrafts, it aims to provide a sustainable source of income and support for Palestinian craftspeople, artisans and farmers. But last week, the shop received an eviction notice from its current home on 123 George Street, which is owned by the Church of Scotland. READ MORE: The Edinburgh shop exclusively selling products made by Palestinians It means the shop's current licence agreement will be terminated in early September. The shop's manager, Yasmina Ferrigan, told The National that Hadeel had been aware that the CoS was considering the future of the building. For 12 years, the CoS has apparently given Hadeel subsidised rent for the property. But added that she was 'quite taken aback' that it was done right now, given what is currently happening in Gaza and the West Bank. Instead, Hadeel had apparently expected a rent increase. 'I don't want to upset and vilify them,' she said. 'But at the end of the day, all of our producers in Palestine are suffering and whatever income we generate allows us more flexibility to support them.' READ MORE: I visited Europe's first museum of Palestinian art. Here's what it was like Ferrigan added: 'And all of our producers in the West Bank are struggling. They've got no source of income. They depend heavily on any sales that we have. 'So, absolutely, it's not an ideal time, especially at a time of such huge unrest and uncertainty.' A statement posted to Hadeel's Facebook page claims the Church of Scotland's decision to evict Hadeel was made in order to re-let the premises at a higher, more commercial value. 'Although we are aware that over the past few years CoS has been considering the future of the building, nevertheless the notice of contract termination came as a surprise and without warning,' it read. 'Despite our deep disappointment, the Joint Council of Hadeel and Palcrafts is cognisant of the reasons that forced CoS to take this decision. We would also acknowledge the longstanding support, partnership and generosity of the CoS over many years.' The statement went on: 'In order to address this difficult situation members of the Palcrafts/Hadeel council met with representatives of the Church of Scotland in order to negotiate a favourable contract and to explore options including an extension of the termination notice and the availability of other properties that can be suitable for relocation of Hadeel. 'At this juncture, we want to reassure our supporters that we are taking every possible action to safeguard the continuation of our organisation and the future of Hadeel.' The move to evict Hadeel was met with some anger from some social media users. One user said: 'It is deeply disturbing to withdraw support for Palestine in the midst of a genocide. What does this tell us about about COS values and moral compass?' Another added: 'Praying for you in this. The work you do is so important, especially just now.' The origins of the shop lie with Carol Morton, wife of a Church of Scotland minister based in Jerusalem, who started selling Palestinian-made goods there and continued on her return to Scotland. A spokesperson for the Church of Scotland said: 'The Church has been very pleased to support the Hadeel shop since 2013 within the national offices building in Edinburgh at a significantly discounted rent, which has not increased over the last 12 years. 'We are facing significant challenges and we are having to make difficult adjustments to how properties are used, to offset operating costs and contribute to the wider funding of the Kirk. 'We understand why this news is upsetting for people and it is not a decision we have taken lightly. 'We will continue to work supportively with Hadeel and ecumenical partners to identify suitable, alternative premises elsewhere.' You can find Hadeel at 123 George St, Edinburgh EH2 4JN. Stay updated with their news via their website, Facebook, and X.
Scotsman
19 minutes ago
- Scotsman
SBS research shows the economic squeeze is hitting savers hard
Three in four people in Scotland expect their savings to be negatively affected this year as economic pressures continue to mount. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This follows new data from Scottish Building Society, which paints a concerning picture for many people as they assess their financial outlook for the year ahead. The Scottish Building Society Savings Barometer surveyed people across Scotland about their financial habits and attitudes amid persistent economic uncertainty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Almost half of all respondents reported a decline in their savings over the past 12 months, with households continuing to grapple with rising costs. Paul Denton from SBS While concerns were widespread, the data revealed particular pessimism among those aged 35 and under, which is unsurprising given both property prices and higher interest rates remain high. Indeed a significant 70% of 25–34 year-olds had to use their savings just to cover day-to-day costs. More than 30% of people have either reduced or completely abandoned their savings goals this year. The generational divide is especially stark, with 80% of 16–24-year-olds having postponed or reduced their savings ambitions, compared to just 40% of those aged 65 and over. Geographical differences also emerged, with savers in areas with below-average property prices more likely to have increased their savings. In contrast, those living in higher-priced regions have seen their savings impacted by elevated mortgage costs, often relying on their savings to mitigate this rising cost. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Paul Denton, Chief Executive of Scottish Building Society, said: "The Scottish Building Society Savings Barometer offers a vital snapshot of the personal finances of Scottish savers. The findings reveal widespread pessimism, with the majority of people having seen their savings take a hit in the past year and even more bracing for a tougher year ahead. Paul Denton, SBS CEO "When 75% of people say their finances have been negatively affected by current economic conditions, it's no surprise confidence is low. Nearly 60% have dipped into their savings to cover rising costs in the last six months, underlining the real impact inflation is having on household budgets." The data suggests age is a key factor, with those aged 65 and over in a significantly stronger position than working-age individuals. A combination of inflation-linked pensions, lower exposure to rising mortgage rates and generally larger savings pots has created a two-tier financial landscape. A third (33%) of over-65s reported no change to their savings in the last year – the highest of any age group. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Denton continued: "We can't ignore the role age plays in financial resilience, particularly during such a challenging time for the economy. "Only 29% of those aged 16–24 were motivated by interest rates and product range when choosing a savings product, compared with 57% of those aged 65+. These figures suggest that the growing complexity of the savings market is making it even harder for young people to get ahead, underscoring the need for straightforward savings products and on the provision of financial education at a young age." While 40% of people managed to save something, it was less than they had planned, suggesting the appetite to save is there, but circumstances are making it difficult. Mr Denton concluded: 'Only 5% of people were able to save more than they had planned in the past year. Market conditions are constraining people's ability to save despite a clear appetite to do so. It is vital that the UK Government recognises these conditions and protects savers from additional tax constraints. In particular, the Cash ISA needs to be given protection from changes to give people the confidence to make sound long-term financial decisions.'
Daily Record
27 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Scottish whisky fans share their picks for the 'best single malt Scotch'
Whiskies from Balvenie, Oban, and more were named. Scottish whisky fans have shared their picks for "the best single malt". Whiskies from acclaimed distilleries such as Balvenie and Glenfarclas were named. Scotland's whiskies are enjoyed across the world, with many of the country's distilleries being globally recognised names. When it comes to buying a bottle of whisky, prices can vary hugely and can easily reach thousands of pounds. On Saturday, June 7, one whisky fan posted on social media asking about the country's top whisky offerings. Writing on the Scotland community on Reddit, they asked: "What is generally considered to be the best single malt Scotch widely available?" The post has received almost 40 comments since being shared. Scots put forth a range of responses and recommendations. One of the most popular replies suggests the Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish Whisky as the country's best, with the user writing: "This is my favourite, a Speyside malt made at the distillery in Dufftown and named for the malts that stands right around the corner. "I like to think I have an educated palate, but taste is subjective; you've got to drink a lot of malts before you know what you like." The Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish Whisky is the flagship single malt from the Balvenie distillery's popular PortWood range. It features nose notes of white peach, honey, and sultanta, as well as tasting notes of cranberries and cooked raspberries. The whisky is currently available to buy for £219.95 from Master of Malt. It is also in stock for £236 from The Whisky Shop. Meanwhile, another Scot recommended the Oban 14 Year Old. They wrote: "You want something really nice for under £100? That almost everyone will appreciate? "I used to buy this quite often a few years back, when it was under £50. Recently the prices have gone crazy, and I've seen it at over £100 in whisky shops." The Oban 14 Year Old comes from the Oban Distillery, which is among the oldest and smallest in the country. Nose notes include sticking plasters and toffee brittle, while hints of marmalade, toffee apples, and pear cider can be tasted. At the moment, the Oban 14 Year Old is available to buy for £86.25 from The Whisky Exchange. Elsewhere, the whisky can be bought from Master of Malt for £77.99. A third suggestion came from one Reddit user who wrote: "I'd look at Glenfarclas 15. You'll get a good bit of change but it punches way above its weight." The Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Whisky features an abundance of dried fruit notes. It also includes notes of raisins, orange peel, walnuts, and dates. The Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Whisky is currently in stock at Master of Malt for a price of £72.95. It can also be purchased for £77 from The Whisky Shop. On the other hand, another Reddit user argued that there is "no such thing" as the single best single malt Scotch. They stated: "What do you like? Peaty? Light? Rich? Sweet? "Everyone's tastes are different so what everyone likes is different. Anyone who claims any particular malt is 'the best' is for all intents and purposes talking out of their ***."
