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| Murco: 400 jobs saved with Milford Haven oil refinery sale | Murco: 400 jobs saved with Milford Haven oil refinery sale |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A sale has been agreed on the closure-threatened Murco oil refinery in Milford Haven, safeguarding 400 jobs. | A sale has been agreed on the closure-threatened Murco oil refinery in Milford Haven, safeguarding 400 jobs. |
| Workers feared the worst when a £300m deal to save the plant collapsed in April. | Workers feared the worst when a £300m deal to save the plant collapsed in April. |
| The future of the refinery had been in doubt since owner Murphy Oil announced it was no longer buying crude oil to be processed at the site. | The future of the refinery had been in doubt since owner Murphy Oil announced it was no longer buying crude oil to be processed at the site. |
| But on Thursday, the Klesch Group confirmed it had signed the purchase agreement for the site. | |
| Klesch Group founder, Gary Klesch, told BBC Wales he was "excited" by the takeover and confirmed he would be keeping the plant's current workforce. | Klesch Group founder, Gary Klesch, told BBC Wales he was "excited" by the takeover and confirmed he would be keeping the plant's current workforce. |
| "Early this morning we signed a purchase agreement with Murphy Oil, we're now contracted to buy it," he said. | "Early this morning we signed a purchase agreement with Murphy Oil, we're now contracted to buy it," he said. |
| "We will be processing cargo, it buys crude oil and converts it into oil products." | "We will be processing cargo, it buys crude oil and converts it into oil products." |
| "It's good news for the site and for the whole area. I'm excited to become involved in the community there," he added. | "It's good news for the site and for the whole area. I'm excited to become involved in the community there," he added. |
| He said the plant's management had suggested a list of site improvements and the Klesch Group would be investing tens of millions of pounds in the area. | |
| 'Patience and professionalism' | |
| "Whenever we buy a business I look for strong, local stakeholder support. And that support comes in many, many different forms. From working with us on licensing, working with us on permits, there's a whole list of issues that need to be dealt with when you're buying a business with this complexity," he said. | |
| "My hats off to both governments in the effort they have undertaken... that was a big factor in my decision at the end of the day to go forward because I could see they were very involved and very supportive." | |
| Bryan Kelly, of Murphy Oil Corporation, said the firm had worked "tirelessly" to find a solution that would keep the refinery open and he was delighted a positive outcome had been reached. | Bryan Kelly, of Murphy Oil Corporation, said the firm had worked "tirelessly" to find a solution that would keep the refinery open and he was delighted a positive outcome had been reached. |
| "The company is extremely grateful for the patience and professionalism of Murco employees, without whom a deal would not have been possible," he added. | "The company is extremely grateful for the patience and professionalism of Murco employees, without whom a deal would not have been possible," he added. |
| Councillor David Pugh, Pembrokeshire's cabinet member for the economy, said the refinery was a key component of the UK energy supply system and its retention supports and strengthens the role of the Milford Haven waterway as a global energy centre. |