Labour accused of driving UK oil and gas to 'a cliff edge' as major refinery teeters on brink of collapse

Labour accused of driving UK oil and gas to ‘a cliff edge’ as major refinery teeters on brink of collapse

Published on: June 30, 2025

By DAILY MAIL CITY & FINANCE REPORTER

Updated: 22:00 BST, 30 June 2025

Labour has been accused of driving the oil and gas industry to ‘a cliff edge’ as one of Britain’s last remaining refineries teeters on the brink of collapse.

The Lindsey Oil Refinery in north Lincolnshire has filed for insolvency – threatening the future of the site on the banks of the River Humber and its 440 workers.

Lindsey’s closure – after chemicals giant Ineos stopped refining oil at Grangemouth in Scotland this year – would leave Britain with just four major refineries.

Union leaders at Unite have called for Labour to drop its ban on new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. And they have blasted Labour ministers over their handling of the industry.

General secretary Sharon Graham said: ‘The Lindsey oil refinery is strategically important and the Government must intervene immediately to protect workers and fuel supplies.

‘Unite has constantly warned the Government that its policies have placed the oil and gas industry on a cliff edge. It has failed to act and put its fingers in its ears.’

Threat: The Lindsey Oil Refinery in north Lincolnshire has filed for insolvency – threatening the future of the site on the banks of the River Humber and its 440 workers

The Lindsey site, which can refine 113,000 barrels of oil per day, is owned by Prax Group, whose parent company, State Oil, has plunged into administration.

Lindsey produces a range of fuels but has lost about £75million since it was sold by Total Energies of France to Prax in 2021.

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Labour accused of driving UK oil and gas to ‘a cliff edge’ as major refinery teeters on brink of collapse

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Labour accused of driving UK oil and gas to ‘a cliff edge’ as major refinery teeters on brink of collapse