UNITE the union expressed “grave concerns” today that the government is breaking its promises to preserve jobs and production at Lindsey oil refinery.

The government’s official receiver took over the refinery following the collapse of Lindsey’s parent company Prax Group in June. Last month, 134 workers were told they would be made redundant.

Unite says it has been contacted by several bidders who complained they had not been allowed to lay out proposals.

The union’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Potential buyers who want to run the whole site are telling Unite that they can’t even get in the door to have their bids considered.”

The Insolvency Service disputed this, saying that every facet of the sales process was being carried out “fairly and appropriately,” with each bidder following the same process to acquire access to the same information.

Energy minister Michael Shanks said: “The official receiver is independently assessing potential bids for the future of the refinery and its assets and has made clear he will continue to work with all bidders with credible and deliverable proposals.”

“We have taken immediate action to fund a training guarantee for refinery workers to support them to find new, secure, long-term jobs, including in the growing clean energy workforce.”