The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Mossmorran flaring prompts renewed calls for inquiry
Apology: Plant operators blame ‘operating upset’ on main compressor
Calls for an independent inquiry into a Fife chemical plant have been stepped up after yet more flaring at the site.
Exxonmobil Chemical Ltd yesterday said sorry to residents for any inconvenience caused by the latest flaring episode at the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran near Cowdenbeath after the plant suffered what was described as an “operating upset” on its main compressor.
With flaring now likely to continue well into the weekend, James Glen, from the Mossmorran Action Group, said communities angry at once again finding themselves with disrupted sleep, stress and worry for an unspecified period want action.
“For all the fine words from the operators and politicians, no one is being held accountable for this ageing plant’s increasingly faulty operation,” he said.
“People don’t trust the monitoring of health and environmental impacts, while the social impacts are completely ignored.”
He added: “Nothing short of an independent inquiry into how noise, air and light pollution from the Mossmorran plant is affecting local communities will now satisfy residents.”
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For all the fine words from the operators and politicians, no one is being held accountable for this ageing plant’s increasingly faulty operation. JAMES GLEN
Sonia Bingham, plant manager at the Fife Ethylene Plant, said yesterday afternoon: “Work to resolve the situation is proceeding well and we anticipate the process of restarting the plant will commence in the next few hours.
“The restart is likely to take between 24 and 36 hours, during which time flaring will be necessary to ensure the safety of the plant.”
She added: “I would like to apologise to the local communities for the unplanned flaring occurring at the Fife Ethylene Plant.
“I would also like to reassure the communities we are doing all we can to minimise flaring and any disturbance or inconvenience in the local area.”
She added: “While we recognise that flaring can cause concern in the local community, it is a vital safety system and there is no danger to local communities or our own workforce.”
Concerns about the impact of flaring on communities were heightened last year after a number of prolonged flaring incidents between June and October.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell called for greater transparency after figures from the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) showed the number of flaring incidents at the plant had risen from 39 in 2008 to 181 in 2016.
In the wake of the latest incident, Mr Ruskell said: “In parliament last week I called for a health study into the impacts of the combined air, light and noise pollution on those living around the plant. It’s vital this now takes place.
“In the meantime, Sepa must use all the powers at its disposal to limit the disruption this billion-dollar US business is causing to Fife communities.”