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Government removes refinery reference from Yellowhammer document

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A DOCUMENT which the UK Government was forced to publish by the House of Commons was redacted to remove a reference to the potential closure of two UK oil refineries.

The document, referred to as ‘Operation Yellowhammer’, was leaked to the Sunday Times last month.

Described originally as a ‘Baseline Assessment’ of the consequences of leaving the EU without a deal, it sets out a range of scenarios that the documents authors believe are likely to occur in the short to medium term following a crash-out Brexit.

The copy published by the Government removes the reference to it being a baseline assessment.

The leaked ‘Yellowhammer’ document went into detail about the risk that leaving the EU without a deal presented to key UK sectors, including ports and refinery capacity.

Both are key issues for the Haven Waterway, which is dependent on export and import trade and is particularly sensitive to tariff changes.

However, the version of the Yellowhammer document published by the government has removed any reference to the risk to ports and refinery capacity.

The document states those on the lowest incomes will bear most of the burden of a crash-out Brexit.

The Westminster Government plans for a no-deal Brexit include a proposal for petrol imports to be tariff-free. However, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, there would be a tariff on petrol exports. That would include petroleum and other refined oil products leaving the Valero refinery.

The leaked documents state that this could lead to ‘significant financial losses’ and suggests that the price of the policy would be the closure of two (unnamed) refineries.

The removal of that reference could mean several things: that the government has resolved the issue; that the government is in the process of resolving it; that the government is desperately attempting to avoid confirming an assessment that would clobber its chances of retaining seats in any of the areas affected. Preseli Pembrokeshire is, notionally, a highly marginal seat, currently held by Stephen Crabb. South Pembrokeshire is represented by junior Cabinet Office minister Simon Hart.

If Valero stopped production the impact on the local economy would be catastrophic; not only for workers on-site but also for companies concerned in the refinery’s supply chain.

The position is complicated by the recent disastrous forced shutdown at Valero following a major power cut. The loss of power damaged the refinery’s cracker plant, which will cost millions to repair.

Valero says it is committed to Pembrokeshire for the long term. However, at the time of the original leak, Valero General Manager Ed Tomp stated: “We are concerned that 0% import tariffs on petrol could create an unfair advantage for importers, resulting in a negative impact on all UK refineries.

“As such we have been working with UKPIA (the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association) to ensure our concerns – and the potential impact of zero tariffs – are clearly communicated to the UK Government.”

Mr Crabb has since written to the Trade Secretary, Elizabeth Truss, to ask her to rethink the tariffs to ensure there was a ‘level playing field’ for all refineries.

The Government remains silent, however, about what progress it has made towards ensuring that thousands of jobs across Pembrokeshire are not lost if the Valero refinery is made unviable by the effects of a crash-out Brexit.

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Closure of Tata Steel’s coke ovens sparks political and union backlash

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THE recent announcement by Tata Steel to close the coke ovens at its Port Talbot plant in South Wales has ignited a firestorm of political and industrial action, highlighting the deepening crisis within the British steel industry and the challenges facing the transition to green steel.

Jo Stevens MP, the Shadow Welsh Secretary, expressed her concerns over the impact of the closure on the Welsh steel industry and the workers affected. Stevens emphasized the need for assurances about the workers’ immediate future and pledged that a UK Labour government would invest in the steel industry to support the transition to green steel, harnessing the skills, talent, and ambition of Welsh steelworkers.

The closure, slated for Wednesday due to concerns over the ovens’ “operational stability,” has been criticized by regional Senedd Members for South Wales West, Tom Giffard MS, and Dr. Altaf Hussain MS. They accused the Labour Welsh Government of neglecting its support for the Tata Steelworks in Port Talbot, highlighting a lack of financial assistance since 2019 and calling for a change in response to the current developments.

Unite, the UK’s leading union, has been vocal in its opposition to Tata’s decision, describing it as a shock and a “result of years of betrayal.” The union criticized Tata for not disclosing the imminent risk of closure during recent consultations and announced a ballot for industrial action among 1,500 Tata workers. Unite insists there should be no job losses at Port Talbot or Llanwern and that a blast furnace should remain operational.

Peter Hughes, Unite’s regional secretary for Wales, called for Tata to halt its closure plans in anticipation of Labour’s promised £3 billion investment to rejuvenate the UK steel industry. He accused Tata of managing the decline of UK steel while accepting government subsidies, describing the company’s actions as “deliberate industrial vandalism.”

The closure has not only raised concerns about the future of steel production in the UK but also spotlighted the political and economic strategies required to ensure the industry’s survival and transition towards more sustainable practices. The unfolding situation underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government, industry stakeholders, and the workforce to navigate the complex challenges ahead.

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Firefighters tackle blaze at block of garages in Monkton

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ONE person was injured as a result of a sunday afternoon garage fire in a block of garages in Monkton.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service told The Pembrokeshire Herald said: “At 1.31pm on March 17, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven crews were called to extinguish a fire in an alight central garage and were forced to use two breathing apparatus and two hose reels.

“The firefighters reportedly left the scene at 3.02pm after continuing to dampen the fire and check for fire spread.

“The casualty was treated by ambulance service personnel also in attendance.”

The police confirmed that a garage fire had been dealt with by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service attended.

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Air ambulance called following incident at Aldi Pembroke Dock

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THE WALES AIR AMBULANCE, along with the Welsh Ambulance Service and police were called on Monday morning to an incident at the Aldi supermarket car park in Pembroke Dock.

The Herald understands that the alarm was raised after a car hit a person in the car park after 9am.

We have been told that the incident involved a local taxi.

The emergency services have been asked for a comment.

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