Major work to expand Fawley refinery that will create 1,000 construction jobs is gathering pace.

The £800m project to build a new diesel plant at the Esso Petroleum Ltd site on Southampton Water was paused during the pandemic but restarted last year.

Now bosses behind the scheme - set to boost ultralow-sulphur diesel production at the site by 45 per cent - are gearing up for the delivery of major components from China.

Some 18 pre-fabricated modules will be shipped to Fawley in November. 

As part of the scheme, Esso is asking for permission to create a temporary bridge to bring in the modules using a huge barge that can lift up the components.

The firm's planning application - submitted to Hampshire County Council - said: "The facility is undergoing an £800m expansion under the Fawley Strategy (FAST) project to add a new diesel plant which will increase ultralow-sulphur diesel production at the site by 45 per cent.

"The project is also supported by a hydrogen plant.

"The FAST project is expected to help reduce the UK’s diesel imports and create approximately 1,000 construction jobs."

It added: "The Proposed Scheme is required to facilitate works of national significance to the Fawley Oil Refinery forming part of the Fawley Strategy (FAST) project, which aims to address current configuration challenges within Fawley Refinery by constructing a new hydrotreater and hydrogen plant, enabling the production of increased low sulphur products such as diesel fuel."

Works are planned for 30 days between November 11, 2023 and December 31, 2023. The start date depends on when the modules arrive from China.

The proposed scheme is on the eastern boundary of the decommissioned Fawley power station, and it will be constructed in an area of derelict industrial ground outside the power station boundary.

The Fawley complex occupies 13km², including a marine terminal handling around 2,000 ship movements annually.

The refinery processes approximately 265,000 barrels of crude oil daily and provides around 20 per cent of the UK’s refining capacity, supplying fuels, lubricants and petrochemical feedstocks.

Two alternatives to using the huge barge as a bridge were considered but discounted.

The existing dock at the power station could not be used for the module unloading due to the width of the dock entrance and the size and position of the centre of gravity of the modules.

Members of the public can comment on the plans by searching HCC/2023/0489 on Hampshire County Council's planning portal.