Nearly 400 workers are at risk of losing their jobs after Syngenta announced plans to cease operations at its Grangemouth site.
The company said no final decision had been made and that it had entered formal consultations with trade unions and employees. If the plant closes, 377 people will lose their jobs.
Syngenta said the site remained significantly more expensive to operate than other production sites despite efforts to reduce the difference. It said a review had been carried out amid increasing international competition and challenging energy conditions, but that identified savings would not close the site’s competitiveness gap.
Mike Hollands, Syngenta Crop Protection’s global head of production and supply and president of Syngenta UK, said the Grangemouth workforce was “highly skilled and passionate” but that the site had not been made competitive compared with alternative supply options.
The company said it remained committed to consultation and would consider “alternative options or paths forward for the site”.
The proposed closure comes just over a year after Syngenta, which is owned by Sinochem, received more than £2 million in Scottish Enterprise funding to expand its Scottish site. It also follows the loss of more than 400 jobs when Scotland’s last oil refinery at Grangemouth closed a year ago.
Scottish Greens MSP Gillian Mackay described the proposal as “another devastating blow” for workers and the local community. Conservative MSP Meghan Gallacher called it “another hammer blow” and urged SNP and Labour ministers to work to protect the jobs.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said the economy secretary had been informed of Syngenta’s intention to begin formal consultation shortly before the announcement was made public.
