Ineos in talks with Rolls-Royce on mini-nuclear power plant technology

Chemicals giant wants to produce zero-carbon electricity to power planned hydrogen systems at Grangemouth refinery

Ineos, the chemicals company owned by the billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has held exploratory talks with Rolls-Royce on nuclear technology that could eventually be chosen to provide zero-carbon energy to the Grangemouth refinery in Scotland.

A deal between Ineos, one of the UK's biggest privately owned companies, and FTSE 100 engineer Rolls-Royce could help Ineos with the tricky task of decarbonising the giant refinery, while also providing Rolls-Royce with an early customer for a new technology it hopes will transform its prospects.