A protest against the closure of Grangemouth
The death knell for UK energy security
The end of Grangemouth and Lindsey oil refineries marks a worrying trend across Europe amid cost and transition pressures
The closure of the 150,000b/d Grangemouth refinery and the insolvency of the owner of 110,000b/d Lindsey refinery highlight the growing threat to the UK’s energy security posed by increased dependence on refined product imports. The UK boasted 18 operational refineries around 1970, but only four will remain after the shutdown of Grangemouth and Lindsey. This marks a sharp decline that underlines the fragility of domestic refining capacity and the country’s increasing exposure to global supply shocks. Grangemouth, built by Scottish Oils in 1924 before being bought by BP, stopped crude processing operations at the end of April. In 2023, current owner Petroineos—a joint venture between UK chemi
Also in this section
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
24 April 2026
The European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis is to double down on its transition strategy, with plans for a new target on electrification
24 April 2026
A major new discovery by Eni and BP that can likely be fast-tracked to production is welcome news for Egypt as it scrambles to plug a widening supply gap and deal with rising import risks
24 April 2026
Countries in the region are turning to the cleaner-burning fuel for power generation, driving demand for imports
