Biofuels firm cuts refinery jobs

Forty jobs have been lost at a biofuels company which has announced it is closing its Teesside refinery.

D1 Oils said the move was necessary as it could not compete against cheaper subsidised biodiesel being imported from the United States.

A spokesman said staff at Middlesbrough were consulted about the losses and it was hoping the business would be sold.

D1 Oils said it planned to concentrate on planting crops in India and Africa to produce biofuels.

The spokesman said: "We do not see the UK as offering a viable location for refining and trading to meet domestic demand for the foreseeable future.

"We therefore intend to cease our refining and trading operations."