The Murco Milford Haven Refinery site has been sold and will be turned into storage facility, it has been confirmed today (Friday).

The move is part of a deal agreed by Puma Energy, to acquire a series of UK assets from Murco Petroleum Limited.

The acquisition includes the Milford Haven refinery site, and three inland terminals at Westerleigh, Theale and Bedworth, as well as Murco’s wholesale and distribution business in the UK.

The agreement represents Puma Energy’s first acquisition in the United Kingdom.

The company will acquire the assets and “convert the site into a state-of-the-art storage facility.”

The company said it was “delighted to be welcoming all the terminal and distribution employees.”

While the number of jobs to be safeguarded at Milford Haven has not been confirmed, it is understood to be around 50.

There was devastation in November when Murphy Oil, the owners of the site, announced that a deal to sell the facility as a refinery collapsed.

Around 600 jobs have been lost at the site.

Described as one of the world’s “largest independent, integrated midstream and downstream companies”, Puma Energy said it will apply its extensive experience in fuel storage at the facility.

The result of which, the company said, will “make Milford Haven a key site securing the supply of energy to the UK and wider region during a period of change in European energy infrastructure.”

Pierre Eladari, CEO for Puma Energy said “Puma Energy continues our focused strategy of connecting supply from International markets to local distribution demand.”

Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb, said: "It’s good to hear that the future of the Milford Haven site as a storage and distribution site is secured.

"Obviously, this outcome is very far from what we had originally hoped would happen. We all wanted to see the site continuing as a refinery, but this news does at least provide security for the terminal and distribution employees at Murco, whose employment will be continued by Puma.’

‘The focus now is to look at what can be done to secure the future of the energy industry in Pembrokeshire.

"I am continuing to regularly meet with Roger Evans, the Chair of the Murco task force, to ensure that we keep up momentum in finding jobs for the remaining refinery workers who are still unemployed. We are also working to make Pembrokeshire a new centre of renewable energy, especially marine power, so that the County benefits from the changing energy industry in the UK."

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We welcome the news that Murphy Oil has come to an agreement with Puma Energy for the sale of Murco Milford Haven site and three inland terminals.

"This is good news for all the staff who will remain  and for Pembrokeshire and south Wales as a whole. However, over 400 employees and contractors have lost their jobs, plus more in the wider supply chain. Whilst many have found work in the oil and gas sector, 26% are still looking for work and we will continue to support them and the wider business community.”

Cllr Jamie Adams, Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, said:“The challenges of the Murco site at Milford Haven have been well recognised, and while a fully functioning refining operation was always my hope, any activity which retains jobs and indeed the infrastructure of the site is important for the Pembrokeshire economy.”