Sarah Townsend The company has said it is fully committed to its operations at the Ellesmere Port oil refinery, including plans to decarbonise its activities and produce sustainable fuel there, despite reports that the company is nearing collapse. Essar Oil UK, which bought the 2,000-acre Stanlow Oil Refinery at the Cheshire enterprise zone from Shell in 2011, has been in urgent discussions for weeks over efforts to stabilise its finances, Sky News reported on Friday. Whitehall officials have reportedly been warned of the company’s declining financial position amid fears it might be close to collapse. Further talks are due to be held this week.