The promotion was probably given so the manager would not reveal the decision to bypass the Main. Sooner or later you will be affected by their management decisions. I'd look for another place to work since it looks like it is a DEAD end place to work.
Sorry to let my cynicism show but decisions based on short term mean the plant is not destined to operate long term. After all it is probably more profitable in the short term to run the plant into the ground and lay everyone off and close it once it fails and the cost to fix it is too high.
