Latest Teesside headlines straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Workers at a chemical plant on Teesside are facing a bleak Christmas after bosses confirmed the facility will close.

The INEOS Nitriles plant at Seal Sands will shut down in the new year, following decades in operation - after the firm said it could no longer "guarantee the long-term safety" of its employees or neighbours.

Around 145 staff will be directly affected . It is not yet known exactly how many will face redundancy.

Some employees, INEOS says, will be relocated to alternative roles "where these exist" at other company sites.

(Image: Teesside Live/Katie Lunn)

INEOS, which bought the plant in 2008, has blamed "decades of under-investment" and says the decision had been made with a "heavy heart".

Jon Howard, Seal Sands site director said the firm had worked closely with staff and unions to "consider ways to avoid closure" but in the end a shutdown had been unavoidable .

Staff have been waiting to learn their fate after being placed under a 59-day consultation in October to determine the future of the site.

Mr Howard added: “Following an extended consultation with employees at Seal Sands is with great regret that I now have to announce the closure of Acrylonitrile plant at the site.

"Over the last 59 days we have worked closely with employees and Unions to consider ways to avoid closure but without a safe, long term economically viable alternative, this has not been possible.

“Over the past 10 years, INEOS has invested almost €200m into the plant to try to counter decades of significant under investment.

"Every penny of profit since we acquired the site has been invested back into the plant.

"To stand still would require another €200m.

"Our staff have worked exceptionally hard and have made significant improvements but it has been impossible to play catch-up.”

(Image: PA)

A spokesperson for INEOS said the site management will now "work hard" to "fully support" its 145 employees affected by the decision through an employee assistance programme.

That could mean relocation within the company and "employee and outplacement support services".

Individual meetings will be held with those affected.

The firm was unable to say exactly how many would face redundancy until it had "had those discussions with people".

Seal Sands produces up to 300 kilotons of Acrylonitrile per year, which goes into clothing, carpets, aircraft and cars.

It is also used in pharmaceuticals from insulin to antibiotics and fertiliser.

INEOS has owned its Seal Sands site since 2008. The adjacent hexamethylenediamine plant (HMD), run by INEOS on behalf of BASF SE, will continue to operate.

The site services required to operate the plant will be restructured to take into consideration the closure of the Acrylonitrile plant, in the coming weeks.

INEOS will now begin to separate acrylonitrile production from continuing activities before closing the plant in the new year and beginning the safe decommission of the unit throughout 2020.