Government invests £120m to save UK’s last ethylene plant

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Severin Carrell and Jillian AmbroseDecember 17, 2025 at 01:01 AM

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The UK government is investing £120 million in Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos to save the country's last ethylene plant in Grangemouth, Scotland. The investment aims to protect over 500 jobs and secure a vital part of the UK's chemical infrastructure. Ethylene produced at the plant is essential for various industries, including medical plastics, water treatment, aerospace, and car manufacturing. The deal, with an additional £30 million from Ineos, comes after criticism of the government's handling of job losses at other Ineos and ExxonMobil sites in Scotland. The investment has political implications ahead of the upcoming Scottish parliamentary elections, with Labour hoping to regain voter support.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Edinburgh 50% Peter Kyle 50% Scotland 60% Rachel Reeves 60% Keir Starmer ×270% UK ×270% Grangemouth ×380% Ineos ×480%

Keywords

ethylene plant 100% government investment 90% job preservation 80% ineos 70% grangemouth 70% chemical infrastructure 60% political implications 50% industrial capability 50% supply chains 40% scottish parliament elections 40%