A council leader says the Government is being "too quiet" regarding Lindsey Oil Refinery. The refinery, located near North Killingholme, is preparing to cut a third of its workforce by the end of the month.
Its long-term future remains unclear, with a sales process for the facility still ongoing. The independent Official Receiver is managing the situation alongside FTI Consulting, who serve as special managers.
Both the receiver and FTI Consulting were appointed by a court following the administration of Prax Group companies on 30 June, reports . The refinery falls within North Lincolnshire Council's jurisdiction.
Council leader Coun Rob Waltham, Conservative councillor for Brigg and Wolds Ward, has condemned the Government for its lack of engagement on the refinery matter. The refinery's largest creditors are HMRC, followed by oil giant Glencore.
He said: "They can't hide behind the Official Receiver anymore. The jobs are too important, strategic capacity around fuel refining is too important. The impact on our network and business opportunities, and even people getting to work is too important.
"They've now got to get rid of all this nonsense that suggests it's all tied up in myths and legends. Fundamentally, the Government is the biggest creditor in a business.
"There are businesses that are really keen to invest, to protect jobs, and fundamentally, the Government are being too quiet on it."
He said he believed the Government needed to be transparent about what it was willing to offer to encourage prospective investors.
"And who they're talking to," he said, referencing one recent proposal for a public-private partnership.
"Those jobs, once they go at the end of this month, for anybody new to come in, it will take them forever to upscale and it's another barrier to making that site work. It's time for the Government to be transparent, that's my pitch, and they need to get on and save those jobs," he said, whilst protecting the crucial industry for the nation.
When asked about the most recent communication he had received, North East Lincolnshire Council leader Coun Philip Jackson, Conservative councillor for the Waltham ward, said: "I think we're still waiting to hear what the outcome of these various talks are.
"I still hope that we're able to save the site and continue to operate it as a key refining facility within the º£½ÇÊÓƵ."
He described it as "critical" to northern Lincolnshire and added: "The majority of people who work there actually live in North East Lincolnshire. It is essential that we save that site."
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) pointed to earlier comments made by Energy Minister Michael Shanks following the issuing of redundancy notices to 125 refinery workers.
"The majority of the workforce will be retained beyond the end of October and we remain hopeful that a solution will be found that supports jobs on the site long-term."
Mr Shanks explained the receiver's decision regarding the timing of the redundancies was designed to provide employees with maximum notice whilst completing the sales process in the coming weeks.
"The Official Receiver is independently assessing potential bids for the future of the refinery and its assets and has made clear he will continue to work with all bidders with credible and deliverable proposals.
"We have taken immediate action to fund a Training Guarantee for refinery workers to support them to find new, secure, long-term jobs, including in the growing clean energy workforce."
Enrolment for this scheme commenced this month. It is understood that mid to late October represents the timeframe within which a sale agreement for the refinery site is expected to be finalised.
Lindsey Oil Refinery has been responsible for 10% of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's refined fuel supplies.
