Decision to shut down Cracker was commercial

THE Government has insisted it is defending British industry in the wake of news that chemicals firm Sabic will permanently close the landmark Olefins 6 cracker on Teesside.

- By TOM KEIGHLEY

The move has been described as a devastating blow for the area, after hundreds of workers and contractors at the Wilton plant learned of its fate this week. It is seen as a watershed moment after generations of cracker plants have operated on the site since the 1950s.

Ministers and senior officials are said to have “engaged” with the company, which said in a statement the long awaited decision about the cracker had come after “thorough analysis aimed at optimising competitiveness”.

A Government spokesperson said: “While we know this will be a concerning time for workers and their families, this site has been offline for a number of years. Ministers and senior officials have engaged with the company, but this is a commercial decision.