UK

Eleven people arrested in Grangemouth climate protest

BBC
Wed, July 19, 2023 

This Is Rigged protesters staged a protest at the Ineos site near Falkirk

Eleven people have been arrested after police launched an operation to remove climate protesters at Grangemouth petrochemical plant.

Officers used a crane and specialist climbing equipment after several This Is Rigged activists scaled oil tankers and climbed on pipework.

Other protesters blocking gates at the site were taken away in police vans.

This Is Rigged also staged a smaller protest at the Rothesay Dock oil terminal in Clydebank.

Ineos said production at the Grangemouth refinery, near Falkirk, was unaffected but a tanker terminal had been shut as a precaution.

Police Scotland confirmed the arrests and said officers remained at both protests.

Police Scotland used a crane to remove protesters at Grangemouth

This Is Rigged said, in a statement posted on social media: "We are shutting down the oil industry in Scotland to demand that the Scottish government steps up and says no new oil, and implements a fair transition for workers."

They added: "We have no plans to stop."

The demonstrations came three days after Climate Camp Scotland activists "occupied" the Ineos gas power station, which powers the Grangemouth refinery.

Police Scotland said five people had been arrested following the protest.

Protestors climbed on to tankers at the gates

Grangemouth pumps out about 2.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year, according to figures campaigners obtained from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

An Ineos spokesperson said emissions had declined by more than 40% since it bought the site in 2005.

They said: "We have a robust roadmap in place that will deliver on our commitments to be a net zero manufacturer by 2045.

"Our products and their applications are helping others to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions too."