HUNDREDS of jobs could be created at the former Grangemouth oil refinery, said two firms as they published proposals for a new biotech hub today.

Scottish firm MiAlgae proposed to create 130 direct full-time jobs and support 180 further posts over the next five years, while Celtic Renewables could create up to 149 jobs by 2030.

The plans have been backed by £1.5 million of funding from Westminster and Scottish governments following the closure of Scotland’s only oil refinery in April.

Unite Scottish Secretary Susan Fitzgerald warned “the highly skilled workers out of work in Grangemouth today can’t wait another five years for jobs to be made available.

“We need to harness every lever and unlock every pot of government finance to deliver a positive future for Grangemouth … we still don’t have a single penny of the £200 million National Wealth Fund promised by the Prime Minister for Grangemouth spent to support this process which is simply not good enough.”