Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Essar Unveils £4.3 Billion Plan to Turn Stanlow into Energy Hub
Essar Group owns a big oil refinery in the UK called Stanlow.
They want to spend £4.3 billion to make it a new kind of plant that uses clean energy, especially hydrogen.
They also think the land could hold big computer centres that use this clean power.
The plan will last until 2035 and will help about 5,000 people keep their jobs.
Essar also wants to open 800 new stores that will get fuel from this refinery.
The company says this will help the UK use cleaner energy and make more money.
Essar plans a £4.3 billion investment to turn Stanlow into an energy‑transition hub focused on hydrogen and low‑carbon projects.
Since 2011, Essar has modernised the refinery with a £1 billion upgrade, a single‑train operation, expanded crude grades and a hydrogen‑ready furnace.
The company is exploring the use of Stanlow’s land for commercial data centres powered by onsite hydrogen‑ready generation.
The investment programme runs through 2035 and includes expanding Essar’s retail network to 800 new locations supplied directly from the refinery.
Stanlow supports about 5,000 UK jobs, with average salaries twice the national average and a £426 million spend on the UK supply chain.
- Who
- Essar Group and Chairman Prashant Ruia
- What
- £4.3 billion investment to transform Stanlow refinery into an energy‑transition hub with hydrogen and data‑centre plans
- When
- Announced 2024, programme runs until 2035
- Where
- Stanlow Manufacturing Complex, United Kingdom
- Why
- To support the UK’s energy transition, create jobs and expand low‑carbon operations
- Investment amount
- £4.3 billion
- Investment period
- 2024‑2035
- Location
- Stanlow Manufacturing Complex, UK
- Jobs supported
- ≈5,000
- Hydrogen-ready furnace
- Installed
- Retail expansion
- 800 new locations
