The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Residents assured there is no danger as flame reappears
COWDENBEATH:
A “complete shutdown” of a Fife chemical plant has started following a small gas leak – meaning the return of the Mossmorran flare.
The incident happened around 3pm yesterday at the Fife Ethylene Plant near Cowdenbeath and emergency flaring – the plant’s safety valve – got under way at 5pm and will continue over the weekend to allow the ageing plant to restart safely.
Exxonmobil Chemical blamed an issue in the plant’s refrigeration system for the “controlled equipment shutdown”.
A spokesman said: “Exxonmobil Chemical would like to apologise to the local community for any concern or inconvenience caused by the flaring currently under way at the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran.
“We have depressurised the system to enable us to determine the cause and return the plant to normal operations.
“Flaring is an essential part of the plant’s safety systems and there is no danger to local communities or employees.
“We would like to assure you that safety and environmental protection are our highest priorities, and we will do all we can to keep flaring to a minimum.
“We anticipate that the flaring will continue for approximately 48 hours but will provide further updates in due course.
Environment agency Sepa said it will continue to work with Exxonmobil Chemical to make sure the flaring is carried out in a way that minimises the impact on local people.
The massive flame coming from the chemical plant on Friday turned the night sky red and could be seen across the region.
The flare stack is a safety defence for refineries and petrochemical plants to allow extremely flammable hydrocarbons to be vented out safely.
Two episodes of flaring which lasted nine days at Mossmorran in June restarted worries about pollutants and the impact of noise and light nuisance.
A public meeting was held in July after scores of complaints were lodged following the flaring at the plant.
Cowdenbeath Conservative councillor Darren Watt said: “It’s disappointing that there’s another unscheduled episode of flaring.”
A spokesman for Scottish Fire and Rescue said: “It will be very visible from many areas – however there is no danger.”