Justin Madders has highlighted the long-standing importance of the Stanlow Refinery to the North West region and to the national economy.
As well as the many jobs available at the plant, and with multi-million ‘green’ plans for the future, Mr Madders says it is crucial for the nation to be able to produce its own fuel supplies.
Managers of Essar Oil UK Ltd, owner of the former Shell oil refinery since 2011, said after a difficult 12 months the company can look forward to the future with optimism. The refinery continues to operate as normal, with uninterrupted supply of products to meet customer needs.
Demand for Stanlow Manufacturing Complex products continues to strengthen alongside the easing of UK lockdown restrictions. Essar produces 16 per cent of UK road transport fuels and the refinery processes 10 million tonnes of crude and feedstocks annually. The company says it will also benefit from the anticipated recovery in aviation fuel demand in the coming months.
Mr Madders said: "As a major employer locally it is good news that Essar's future is now looking more positive.
“We know they have had a tough time over the last year, as has everyone, but it would have been a real disaster if those short term difficulties had meant the loss of a business that has been in the area for a very long time.
“I hope this news means we can now look forward to a bright future for the business and in particular a significant contribution to the decarbonisation agenda."
Essar Oil UK is planning a series of improvements at the site. One proposal is a £600m investment to turn waste from the refinery into low carbon aviation fuel by creating a bio-refinery.
And the company has also revealed a £72m plan to create thousands of new jobs through HyNet North West hydrogen and carbon capture storage project. Construction work is now under way near to Stanlow.
Since acquiring Stanlow a decade ago, Essar has invested $1 billion in the Essar Oil UK business. The site’s largest ever turnaround in 2018 saw the successful delivery of a project that increased annual throughput capacity from 68 million to 75m barrels, as well as improving yields and driving revenues.
A spokesperson for Essar said: “We are grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from our customers, suppliers and the Government through the last year. We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with high-value products and progressing our post-carbon transformation plans.”
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