Some skilled refinery workers wanted by other Northland companies

Tuesday, 23 November 2021

RNZ's podcast The Detail looked in August at the history of Marsden Point, and why some people were warning that closing it could put the country's fuel security at risk.

While hundreds of jobs will be cut as Refining NZ stops refining at Marsden Point, other Northland employers are keen to snap up skilled workers.

On Monday, The New Zealand Refining Company board confirmed it will stop refining oil by April and will switch to being an import-only terminal.

The closure will result in the loss of 240 of the company’s 310 jobs, though some displaced workers will be kept on for up to two years, a refinery spokeswoman said.

The oil refinery at Northland’s Marsden Point will close in April and the land will become a fuel import terminal.

A further 80 to 160 full-time contractor roles will also be cut in the closure, and the shutdown will spell the end of annual maintenance contracts, where up to 700 people are brought on sight.

**READ MORE:

While 240 employees and up to 160 contractors could lose their jobs, there are positions available for skilled workers. (File photo)

* Government decided not to follow through on idea of talks to save refinery

* National would look to keep refinery in a state where it could be turned back on

The refinery, at the mouth of Whangārei Harbour, will be decommissioned over the next two years.

* What is the Refining NZ vote and what does it mean for oil industry and Northland?

The Government decided not to interfere in the refinery business, saying there was no threat to fuel security.

Whangārei firm Culham Engineering has a long history of contracting fabricator welders to the refinery and operations manager Dave Cunningham hoped the work will continue.

“We’re talking about some decommissioning activities – hopefully our team will be involved with that and some project work to turn it into a terminal.”

The company has 22 staff working full-time at Marsden Point – a number which has dropped over the last couple of years as the refinery has consolidated its work.

But Cunningham said Culham Engineering is looking for a couple more staff to work at the refinery as contractors.

Potentially, it will have positions to offer some of the refinery’s skilled staff, with a lot of commercial building work lined up, he said.

“We’ve got lots of work in… We’re building structural steel for jobs in Auckland and Wellington, a small job in the Bay of Plenty and a little job next year in Invercargill.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Government’s main concern about the refinery closing is the impact on the community and the loss of highly skilled workers.

“We’re doing everything that we can to ensure that they are utilised and maintained,” Ardern said at her Monday 4pm press conference.

The Government has been working with regional economic development agency Northland Inc to retain workers, she said.

A petition of more than 18,000 signatures is calling on the Government to put New Zealand’s fuel security ahead of oil company profits - and buy the refinery off its private owners.

The petition, organised by Social Credit leader Chris Leitch, is set to be presented to Parliament this week.

But the Government has consistently decided not to interfere in saving the refinery.

Ardern said on Monday the Government had been advised there was no greater risk to security of supply of fuels, than already exists with the refinery operating.