Strike on at Grangemouth

SunnyJim · Post by **SunnyJim** » 01 May 2008, 13:37

Those tin hat's look a bit stupid now don't they?

Still I'm sure thats what they want us to think!

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 01 May 2008, 13:39

I like mine anyway - I'm anticipating fashion.

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 01 May 2008, 14:29

Andy Hunt wrote:Well our tinfoil hats are gleaming brightly in the spring sunshine. No economic sabotage or permanent shut-down of the refinery.

We may still see problems at petrol stations as the ripples spread outwards, but maybe no major ones. Still, a good exercise in bringing the possibility of fuel shortages to the public attention - and prompted me to fill up my jerry can too.

I'm still wearing mine, to errrm, deflect the mind rays being beamed at us from the oil industry aliens.

I also am glad I have some full jerry cans of diesel too.

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 01 May 2008, 21:23

RalphW wrote: I expect the refinery to ... close down completely some time in the next three years.

Now you may indeed be right with that one! I wouldnt be surprised, especially given how much extra refining capacity is coming on stream in the next 1-3 years. Refinery margins are going to take a bit of a beating I suspect, and some older european refineries may get mothballed as the new asian mega-refineries take over (eg jamnagar)

Post by **mikepepler** » 01 May 2008, 21:41

Tess wrote:
RalphW wrote: I expect the refinery to ... close down completely some time in the next three years.
Now you may indeed be right with that one! I wouldnt be surprised, especially given how much extra refining capacity is coming on stream in the next 1-3 years. Refinery margins are going to take a bit of a beating I suspect, and some older european refineries may get mothballed as the new asian mega-refineries take over (eg jamnagar)

Also I assume Grangemouth currently gains an advantage from having an oil pipeline, which it will lose once the amount coming through the pipe dwindles - though I hope that takes more than 3 years!

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 01 May 2008, 21:51

mikepepler wrote: Also I assume Grangemouth currently gains an advantage from having an oil pipeline,

It's true, they have an advantage there - they dont have to pay the $2-3/bbl to get the crude by tanker. But even so, if their margins took a beating because gasoline or diesel prices in north west europe were being undercut by cheap imports from asia, that $3 wouldnt go very far. And of course once the refinery is shut, there'd be very little chance of it coming back.

Still, I'm sure we'll all be driving electric cars and scooters powered by incredibly cheap nuclear power by then

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 06 May 2008, 10:20

It's not over yet . . . in fact it could just be beginning:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/u ... 835794.ece

Fears were mounting last night that workers at the Grangemouth oil refinery could go back on strike within days, raising the prospect of further disruption to motorists and a prolonged period of uncertainty for the economy.

There was no sign last night that the two sides were any closer to reopening talks on the issue at the heart of the dispute - the closure of the company's pension scheme to new employees - and attention will now switch to whether the Unite trade union begins to draw up plans for further industrial action.

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 06 May 2008, 12:24

Andy, that article is dated April 29th.

I think it has been superceeded by news of potential agreement.

Andy Hunt · Post by **Andy Hunt** » 06 May 2008, 13:03

Oops!

Did you hear Reagan's been shot etc . . .