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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Strike refinery shutdown complete | Strike refinery shutdown complete |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The shutdown of the Ineos oil refinery at Grangemouth in central Scotland has been completed, the company has said. | The shutdown of the Ineos oil refinery at Grangemouth in central Scotland has been completed, the company has said. |
| The 1,700-acre plant is being closed in preparation for a two-day strike by staff over pension changes, which is due to start on Sunday. | The 1,700-acre plant is being closed in preparation for a two-day strike by staff over pension changes, which is due to start on Sunday. |
| Oil giant BP has said that if the action went ahead, it would have to close the Forties oil pipeline. | Oil giant BP has said that if the action went ahead, it would have to close the Forties oil pipeline. |
| The pipeline links North Sea oil production with Grangemouth, delivering 30% of the UK's daily oil output. | The pipeline links North Sea oil production with Grangemouth, delivering 30% of the UK's daily oil output. |
| Last minute talks | Last minute talks |
| The process to shut the refinery, which is Scotland's main fuel supplier, began on Monday. | The process to shut the refinery, which is Scotland's main fuel supplier, began on Monday. |
| It is the first time the facility, which processes 210,000 barrels of oil a day, has been completely shut down. | It is the first time the facility, which processes 210,000 barrels of oil a day, has been completely shut down. |
| Ineos said it could take up to three weeks for the plant to get back up to 100% production capacity following the shutdown. | Ineos said it could take up to three weeks for the plant to get back up to 100% production capacity following the shutdown. |
| Despite the plant's closure, the BBC understands last minute talks aimed at averting the strike are still continuing. | Despite the plant's closure, the BBC understands last minute talks aimed at averting the strike are still continuing. |
| The Unite union, which represents workers at the refinery, said Ineos had sent a letter to all staff telling them that the pension scheme would close to new employees from 1 August. | The Unite union, which represents workers at the refinery, said Ineos had sent a letter to all staff telling them that the pension scheme would close to new employees from 1 August. |
| Unite's national officer for Ineos, Phil McNulty, said: "We believe that Ineos has acted cynically in its dealings with us and we are suspicious about its intentions even to try to avert a strike. | |
| "Our members have acted in good faith throughout this dispute. | "Our members have acted in good faith throughout this dispute. |
| "We have talked to Ineos for eight months and only when the company breached the terms of the consultation by introducing changes to the pension scheme without agreement did we ballot out members." | "We have talked to Ineos for eight months and only when the company breached the terms of the consultation by introducing changes to the pension scheme without agreement did we ballot out members." |