That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
Ineos has halted production at its three chemical plants in Hull due to soaring UK gas prices, affecting about 1,000 employees based at the Saltend Chemicals Park. The company’s chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, attributed this decision to natural gas costs being significantly higher than those in the US and China, making European manufacturing uncompetitive. Ineos has ceased operations at two plants already, with the third set to follow shortly, blaming high energy prices for these closures despite no immediate plans for redundancies.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, founder of Ineos, a major chemical company, announced that his firm would temporarily halt production at three chemical sites in Hull due to extremely high natural gas prices in the UK. Gas costs are 12 times higher than in the US and eight times more expensive than in China, where coal is predominantly used. This decision affects up to 4,000 jobs, with about 240 directly employed by Ineos and another 3,000 indirectly linked through supply chains.
Ratcliffe cited high UK taxes and immigration as factors contributing to the country's economic challenges, blaming them for high gas prices that are making it difficult for Ineos to compete globally. The affected plants produce raw materials used in pharmaceuticals, clothing, cosmetics, detergents, construction materials, and military explosives. Workers at the sites will remain employed during the temporary closure while Ineos seeks alternative solutions, such as securing liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly from the US or waiting for a decrease in UK gas prices.
Written for “Ineos Plant Shutdowns Gas Prices” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Ineos is one of the world’s largest chemical companies, producing raw materials used in products including pharmaceuticals, clothing and cosmetics, construction and military explosives.
asserted
Ineos → produce → pharmaceuticals
It is understood that around 1,000 employees who are based at the Saltend Chemicals Park will be affected by the move, of which about 240 are directly employed by Ineos.
asserted
240 → understand → Ineos
A spokesman said that, because of the operational demands of the site, all Ineos employees will remain working even through the process of making the plants idle, and confirmed there were no redundancies planned.
Sir Jim, its founder and chairman, said Ineos was “being forced to mothball some of the most efficient plants in Europe but with gas prices now 12 times the level in the US and eight times that of China, we just cannot compete”.
He blamed “ridiculously high” prices for “destroying our manufacturing base and the jobs of hard-working people on Humberside”.
asserted
He → say → Humberside
Gas is used as energy and to power the production processes at the Hull plants, which produce three key types of chemicals – acetic acid, acetic anhydride and ethyl acetate.
asserted
which → use → chemicals
These are used in a range of everyday products including household cleaning products, packaging and plastics, aspirin and paracetamol, textiles and paints, and in the production of food preservation.
asserted
These → use → preservation
Ineos said two plants had already ceased production and the third would be paused in the next few days.
asserted
third → say → days
Read More
UK natural gas prices have roughly doubled between July and September, recently reaching the highest level since December 2022.
asserted
prices → read → December
This has largely been driven by the US-Israel war in Iran and disruption to oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
asserted
This → drive → Hormuz
The scheme was designed to reduce emissions across the economy by making it more expensive to burn fossil fuels and other waste.
asserted
it → design → fuels
Sir Jim has said it has made the UK a less competitive place for manufacturers to operate compared with nations such as China and the US.
asserted
manufacturers → say → China
Last year, he warned that Europe’s chemical industry was at a “tipping point” and only urgent action could save it.
Energy minister Michael Shanks said he was calling on Sir Jim “to be part of the solution” and work with the Government on its reindustrialisation plans.
“We’re doing a lot of work across government on the chemicals industry at the moment, but I would call for Jim Ratcliffe to be part of the solution to building the reindustrialisation of Britain,” he told the Press Association.
“He has an important role to play in that, and I think he should work with us to make sure we’re protecting as many jobs as possible.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade said: “While this is a commercial decision from Ineos, we know this will be a concerning time for workers in Saltend and their families.
“We’ve taken bold action to support our chemicals industry including £350 million for strategically important chemicals producers, which will be available on a co-investment basis.
uncertain
which → warn → basis
“We’ve also put trade measures in place on foreign chemicals imports and are tackling high electricity costs via our Supercharger and British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to keep our chemicals sector competitive.”
asserted
We → put → sector
The Aporia
