Oil refinery plan for new diesel plant to create 1,000 construction jobs

UP to 1,000 construction jobs could be created after top executives at petrochemical giant ExxonMobil gave the green light to an £800m investment in Fawley oil refinery.

The huge project is to expand ultra-low sulphur diesel production at the New Forest facility by almost 45% – or 38,000 barrels per day.

As long as it secures approval from New Forest District Council, the company said construction is expected to begin late this year with start-up scheduled in 2021.

As well as creating construction jobs, ExxonMobil has said it would also help safeguard the future of the 1,000 existing positions at the plant, one of the biggest employers in the region.

Refinery manager Simon Downing said: “This latest significant investment supports the long-term competitiveness of Fawley, Britain’s largest integrated refinery and petrochemical plant. It also reflects ExxonMobil’s strong and continued presence in the UK.

“Major investments like this require a stable and supportive policy framework and we will continue to work with the government to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the site.”

First revealed in the A&T, the proposal includes a pair of 50-metre chimneys and would be built on a cleared area about 500 metres from the nearest homes.

At a press event last year, Mr Downing said that for residents there would be “no noticeable change” in noise or emissions – but would not be drawn to make a promise.

New Forest East MP Julian Lewis welcomed the announcement as a boost for his constituency where the plant has been since 1921.

Dr Lewis said: “Fawley oil refinery is our most important industrial local employer and any investment of this magnitude is bound to send a message of confidence in the long-term future of the whole Exxon operation here and that can only be good news for the community.”

Of any pollution concerns, he said: “I am not aware that the refining process for diesel carries any greater risk than any other oil refining process carried out there for more than half a century.

“So if there are causes for concern then the planning process is the right way to bring these to public attention. But on the face of it this would appear to be a good news story.”

The refinery is the biggest in the UK and already provides about 20% of the country’s overall refinery capacity. The proposed addition is aimed at reducing the UK’s need for diesel imports which in 2017 stood at about half its total consumption.

Detailed engineering and design is underway on the scheme which comprises a hydrotreater unit to remove sulphur from diesel, supported by a hydrogen plant.

Last year Fabrice Aurian, project executive, said the unit was a tried and tested model similar to around 200 used around the world.

The project team insisted no extra traffic would be generated by the new equipment which complies with emissions legislation.

The Fawley site on the shores of Southampton Water is seen as having strategic access to distribution logistics across southern England as well as export access to markets in Europe and the Atlantic basin.

The project is part of ExxonMobil’s recent investments around the world such as on the US Gulf Coast, Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Singapore.