Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) started a major planned turnaround at its Olefins 6 cracker in Teesside, the UK on September 30. However, the work also includes retiring several older operating assets which cause some job reductions. Cited in a local media report, a worker said some people had been told to leave the site on Wednesday, adding that the cracker would be mothballed until next year.
SABIC denied that it had sent employees home. However, it confirmed, in a statement, that the shutdown would result in some job losses. SABIC did not confirm how many jobs would be affected nor how long the cracker will be idle. The statement said that SABIC would support all of its workers during this period of change. The company employs over 500 workers and around 400 contractors in Teesside.
