The future of 180 oil refinery jobs on Teesside are in doubt after its Swiss owners said the site could soon be put up for sale. The Petroplus refinery at Seal Sands near Billingham could be turned into a terminal or storage facility.
Union leaders have expressed concern that vital skills needed to sustain Teesside's reliance on the chemical industry, could be lost. Petroplus said its refining operations had been hit by the global downturn. Evaluation process A spokesman for the company, which operates seven refineries in the UK and Europe, said: "The board of directors has reviewed the refinery operations and based on required future capital investments at the site, the company will evaluate strategic alternatives, including the potential sale or conversion to a terminal or storage facility. "During the evaluation process, the company will continue to operate the refinery and make the necessary investments for compliance with environmental, health and safety standards. "The company is committed to a smooth transition process and consideration for the welfare of employees and the supply of oil products into the community." A spokesman for the Unite union said it was vital that petrochemical skills on Teesside were retained wherever possible.
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