Up to 55 Lindsey Oil Refinery staff will be made redundant following the sale of the site.
The plant in South Killingholme will turn water into gas to fuel heaters at the nearby refinery.
Phillips 66, which runs a neighbouring site, has bought the plant after its owner Prax collapsed.
The government has defended the Lindsey refinery takeover amid criticism from opposition parties.
Phillips 66, which runs a neighbouring site, will not restart standalone refinery operations.
The plant in North Lincolnshire was taken over by the official receiver when owner Prax collapsed.
The Humber Refinery near South Killingholme was filmed as a backdrop for Kraven the Hunter.
The development will be built on land by the A180 near South Killingholme.
If approved, it would be one of the largest centres in Europe.
