The owner of the Stanlow oil refinery has said it expects to seal a crucial finance deal over the coming weeks.
Essar Oil UK has said it is continuing with plans to strengthen its balance sheet, and is confident of concluding a further financing by the end of June.
It comes after the firm was forced to speak out over rumours of the huge site's "deteriorating finances".
Reports earlier this month said there were fears for the future of the Ellesmere Port site, where around 900 people are employed, with thousands more jobs dependent on its supply chains.
But Essar responded by saying it had successfully traded through a "very difficult" pandemic year - and that it does not have "any short term or long term bank debt" other than working capital lines.
On Thursday, a statement said the refinery continues to operate "as normal", with uninterrupted supplies to meet customer needs.
Demand for the refinery’s products continues to strengthen - alongside the easing of lockdown restrictions in the UK.
The company said it was "confident" the further financing will be concluded "swiftly", based on the proposals it has received.
It added that progress on financings had been "positive".
A spokesperson said: “We are delighted to report on the positive developments at the refinery. We are grateful for the support we have received, and continue to receive, from our customers, suppliers and the Government through the last year.
"We look forward to continuing to serve our customers with high-value products and progressing our post-carbon transformation plans.”
Thursday's statement also said it had seen a "significant increase" in products being sold at the refinery, which is now generating positive EBITDA in the region of US$40m for the second calendar quarter of 2021 - compared to a sum of negative US$18m last year.
The company said it will also benefit further from the anticipated recovery in aviation fuel demand in the coming months.
