Speed up new gas plant at Coryton, minister begged

Plans for a new gas power station in Essex are being held back because investors won’t cough up until the project bags government subsidy. The dilemma was revealed by local MP Stephen Metcalfe yesterday in the House of Commons when he asked Energy Minister Michael Fallon to help avoid “unnecessary delay”. He said energy firm Intergen […]

Government “dangerously complacent” over Coryton refinery

The Government has been accused of “dangerous complacency” over its attempts to avoid the Coryton oil refinery closure. After its owner Petroplus went into administration earlier this year, there had been hopes for the future of Coryton but the Essex site now looks unlikely to remain a refinery. Several hundred redundancies are expected. Baroness Smith, […]

180 Coryton workers to lose jobs

About 180 workers at the Coryton refinery will be made redundant next week, its administrators announced. The news comes after PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) failed to find a buyer for the Essex site earlier this year. Swiss owner Petroplus held a meeting earlier this week with the employees and the Unite union at Coryton to explain their […]

Former Russian Minister last hope for Coryton

A former Russian energy Minister is bidding to stop the Coryton refinery from closing down, according to newspaper reports. The news comes after the UK Government announced last week that it won’t be providing the refinery any support. Igor Yusufov emerged as the sole bidder for the bankrupt refinery and could potentially save the jobs […]

Coryton workers “kicked in the teeth” by Government

The UK Government has decided not to provide support for the Coryton refinery with nearly 1000 workers being “kicked in the teeth.” The Government announced it won’t be applying for state aid from the European Commission after the refinery’s administrators failed to find a buyer for the site. A Government spokesperson said: “We have come […]

‘RIP Coryton’ wreath presented at protest

Coryton workers unveiled a RIP wreath at a protest today against the closure of the refinery. The wreath made by a local florist in the Essex town of Corringham summed up the sombre mood. Labour MEP Richard Howitt, (pictured right), who has helped campaign against the shutdown, joined the protest this morning. He tweeted: “Colours […]

Coryton set to close

ELN visits Coryton and hears how those facing redundancy feel

Coryton refinery expects “substantial” redundancies

The Essex refinery at Coryton is about to close with administrators expecting a “substantial number of redundancies” from the 500 strong workforce over the next few months. Administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers spoke to over 100 possible investors and purchasers but were unable to reach a deal. The Coryton plant in Essex was put into administration in February […]

Coryton refinery gets three month deal

The Coryton oil refinery in Essex has signed a three month agreement with three firms to keep it operational. The plant’s owners Petrolplus filed for insolvency last month, which threatened the future of one of the south east’s largest fuel suppliers. The administrators, PricewaterhouseCoopers, said in a statement: “This arrangement allows the refinery to continue […]

Coryton future looks more certain

The survival of Coryton oil refinery in Essex looked more secure today after Energy Minister Charles Hendry said there are still “strong levels of interest” from buyers. Coryton’s future was thrown into doubt after its parent company filed for insolvency last month. Today after a third meeting of interested parties was attended by local politicians, […]