Prax UK oil firms in liquidation: January 2026 guide

Five UK companies in the Prax group are now in compulsory liquidation. The Insolvency Service’s GOV.UK notice, last updated on 19 January 2026, sets out what has happened and who to contact. We’ve turned that notice into a plain‑English guide you can use today. (gov.uk)

First, a quick primer. Compulsory liquidation happens when a court makes a winding‑up order because a company cannot pay its debts. From that point, control moves away from the directors to an independent office‑holder who secures assets, communicates with creditors and begins investigations. It is a formal legal process with set steps and timeframes.

Here is the confirmed timeline. On 30 June 2025, the court made winding‑up orders for Prax Lindsey Oil Refinery Limited, Prax Storage Lindsey Limited and Prax Terminals Killingholme Limited. On 22 July 2025, Prax Terminals Jarrow Limited was wound up. On 12 November 2025, Prax Downstream UK Limited followed. In each case, Gareth Jonathan Allen was appointed as the Official Receiver and Liquidator. (gov.uk)

To help run the affairs of these companies, the court also appointed Special Managers from FTI Consulting LLP to assist the Official Receiver. Their role is practical: they help manage records, operations and communications while the liquidation proceeds. (gov.uk)

If you are a customer, the notice asks you to email PLOR.customers@fticonsulting.com. When you write, include your order reference, dates, what was paid, what was received and any delivery details. Keep copies of everything you send so the Special Managers can review your position quickly. (gov.uk)

If you are a supplier with unpaid invoices or goods still on site, contact PLOR.suppliers@fticonsulting.com. Include invoice numbers, purchase orders, delivery notes and any retention‑of‑title wording from your contract. The office‑holders will confirm next steps and what is permitted. (gov.uk)

If you are owed money, you are a creditor and you should register your claim. The Insolvency Service explains how to claim in a compulsory liquidation, and the Prax notice says you must complete a Proof of Debt that clearly names the correct Prax company. The standard template is on GOV.UK as ‘Rule 14.4 - Proof of Debt (General Form)’. (gov.uk)

Complete the form, attach your evidence and email everything to PLOR.Creditor@Insolvency.gov.uk. Once received, the Official Receiver will add qualifying claims to the creditors’ list and include you on updates about the case. Clear documents make decisions faster. (gov.uk)

Sub‑contractors use the same route: fill in a Proof of Debt and send it to the Liquidator. If your contract was with a different company in the State Oil group, contact that company directly about any concerns, as the Prax addresses above cover these five companies only. (gov.uk)

What happens next is largely procedural. The Official Receiver must wind up the companies in line with statutory duties and investigate the reasons for failure and the conduct of current and former directors. This investigative work is routine and runs alongside efforts to realise assets. (gov.uk)

Any payments to creditors depend on what the office‑holders can recover and the legal order of priority. Many liquidations take months or longer, and unsecured creditors often receive only a proportion of what they are owed. Your best move is to file a clear, well‑evidenced claim and keep your contact details current.

For students and teachers, this is a live media‑literacy exercise. Read official notices for the dates, who is in charge, and what documents are needed. In this case, those answers sit on GOV.UK, and using the named email addresses gets you into the queue early and avoids guesswork. (gov.uk)