Council leaders and Greater Lincolnshire Mayor unite on Lindsey Oil Refinery
They've written a letter to Ed Miliband requesting an urgent meeting on Lindsey Oil Refinery
Last updated 31st Jul 2025
The Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, and leaders of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire councils and Lincolnshire County Council have jointly written to Ed Miliband requesting an urgent meeting on Lindsey Oil Refinery. The refinery is being wound down after the UK’s Official Receiver deemed no viable bids had been made to buy it.
The Official Receiver has run the refinery, with FTI Consulting as special managers, since Prax Group companies in charge entered liquidation on June 30. The joint letter, sent by council leaders Cllr Philip Jackson (Conservative – North East Lincolnshire), Cllr Rob Waltham (Conservative – North Lincolnshire), Cllr Sean Matthews (Reform UK – Lincolnshire County Council) and Mayor Dame Andrea Jenkyns (Reform UK) requests an urgent meeting with Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary, Mr Miliband.
It calls for immediate Government intervention, and also raises concerns about the knock-on impact of the refinery closing. The refinery they estimate as directly employing 440 people, and supporting indirectly another 560 jobs.
The four political leaders warn of closure’s impact on local employment, national fuel security and the UK’s refining capacity. They claim the closure, together with Grangemouth’s recent closure in Scotland, would result in the loss of 25 per cent of the UK’s refining capacity within a few months.
However, the Government have stated there is no threat to the UK’s fuel supply. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: “These claims about energy security are deliberately misleading. The closure of Lindsey will not make us significantly more dependent on imports, with UK refineries already importing 80-90% of their crude oil.
“Our fuel supply remains secure. Lindsey is the smallest refinery in the UK – next door to one of the biggest and most efficient.
“Partial sales of the site continue to be explored by the Official Receiver and we are funding an immediate training guarantee for refinery workers, to ensure they are supported to find jobs in the growing clean energy workforce in the region.”
“The refinery is not just a local employer—it is a national asset,” said Dame Andrea. “Its closure would be a devastating blow to our communities and a reckless step backwards for the UK’s energy resilience. We need urgent action from the Government to protect this vital infrastructure.”
Cllr Waltham leads the local authority area, North Lincolnshire, that the refinery is located in. “This is about protecting jobs, securing fuel supply, and ensuring we don’t push more families into fuel poverty.
“We are calling on the Government to step up, engage with stakeholders, and deliver a plan that keeps this refinery operational and our communities supported.” Cllr Jackson leads North East Lincolnshire, where it is estimated 65 per cent of the refinery’s workforce lives.
“We are calling for immediate government intervention to preserve, modernise, or diversify operations at the site,” he said. “The Government must act now to protect jobs and ensure the UK does not become dangerously dependent on foreign fuel imports.”
Cllr Matthews said: “This is about safeguarding livelihoods, stabilising communities, and securing our national interests. We need a clear plan from the Government to support affected workers and maintain domestic refining capacity.”
The four leaders have requested an urgent meeting with Mr Miliband to discuss potential interventions and to ensure that the voices of local communities and workers are heard at the highest levels of government. It is not the only letter that has been sent to Mr Miliband on Lindsey Oil Refinery in recent days.
Martin Vickers MP (Conservative – Brigg and Immingham), Melanie Onn MP (Labour – Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes) and Dame Andrea have all sent their own, too. The trio have also sent correspondence to each other this week, with the MPs suggesting the Mayor consider use of £24m a year devolution cash to herself intervene to buy more time for a possible sale of the refinery.
In her reply on social media, Dame Andrea did not directly address this idea. But she indicated her continued desire for greater Government intervention.