The Scottish and UK governments have held “constructive” talks on how best to support the workers at the Mossmorran chemical plant in Fife.
The ethylene manufacturing facility is to close in February, impacting more than 400 workers and contractors.
Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee joined Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander at a meeting with Fife Council, trade unions and local employers earlier.
There had been confusion in recent days after the two governments invited each other to different meetings, with Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to hold talks with Mossmorran owners Exxon Mobil on Tuesday.
Alexander had called on Forbes to attend Monday’s meeting, insisting the workforce “deserved unity rather than political squabbles”, while Forbes had urged the UK government to take “urgent action”.
Before the meeting, Alexander told Radio Scotland’s Breakfast that there had been no “serious commercial offer” for the Mossmorran site that could keep it open, warning that it had been losing £1m a month.
After the meeting concluded, he said: “Today was a constructive and purposeful discussion: it was the ‘Team Scotland’ approach the workforce deserve.
“I confirmed that I have raised with the UK government’s Office for Investment my goal that it would help broker any possible buyer of the Mossmorran facility.”
The Labour minister also said that defence giant Babcock, which runs the nearby Rosyth shipyard, had signalled a willingness to explore whether it could potentially employ some of the skilled workers from Mossmorran.
Earlier, Forbes had warned that “any reports of conflict” between the UK government and Scottish governments did a “disservice” to the workers.
She insisted that the UK government had the “levers for an industrial intervention” – citing British Steel’s plant in Scunthorpe – and the ability to take “urgent action to address the high cost of energy”.
High supply costs had been raised by bosses at Exxon Mobil as one of the reasons why the company felt there was no longer a “competitive future for the site”.
Speaking after the talks, McKee said: “We are working with the UK government and Fife Council to achieve a positive outcome for workers and will do what we can to ensure the focus remains on them and the wider community affected by the closure at Mossmorran.”
He added that Forbes would meet with workers and trade unions on Tuesday “to consider what further steps we can take to mitigate the impact of this decision”.
Fife Council leader David Ross said that the closure of the plant would be a “devastating blow” for workers and the local community, and called for the plans to be paused.
He added: “Fife Council will work with all partners to explore future opportunities for the site and for the wider Fife economy and the council stands ready to do everything within its power to support those affected and to secure a positive future for the area.”
‘A product of failed policies’
Alexander also confirmed that the UK government would announce up to £14.5m in investment for Grangemouth in the upcoming Budget, after the site’s oil refinery stopped processing crude oil in April.
Scottish Conservative energy spokesperson Douglas Lumsden said: “When it comes to Mossmorran and Grangemouth, the horse has already bolted.
“The task forces, summits and rescue plans are a product of Labour and the SNP’s failed policies.
“This stream of oil and gas-related job losses will continue unless both governments support new North Sea drilling and Rachel Reeves ditches the Energy Profits Levy.”