Controversial plant to shut down for month

Company says it is looking at ‘root cause’ of latest issues and carrying out maintenance

Exxon Mobil’s under-fire Mossmorran plant has been shut down for a month.

The move comes amid mounting criticism after yet another bout of unplanned flaring at the Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP).

Fed up communities have had to endure another three days of elevated flaring as a temporary shutdown was arranged to allow two boilers to be repaired.

Exxon Mobil has now announced the ageing plant will remain closed for about four weeks while remedial maintenance is carried out.

The news came as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), Fife Council, NHS Fife, Health Protection Scotland and Police Scotland, met to look at the situation.

Plant manager Jacob McAlister said: “Following the safe and temporary shutdown of the plant, the team at FEP is now focused on determining the root cause and executing required maintenance to our boilers.

“The plant remains completely safe.” Staff will also carry out other maintenance work during the closure and there will be no flaring.

James Glen, of Mossmorran Action Group, said: “It must be a major incident if it’s closing for a month.

“The amount of money they’ll be losing is a good indication of how serious this is.”

Labour MP Lesley Laird said it was crucial maintenance issues were addressed during this time.

And local SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing said shutting the plant down was the sensible decision.

“The alternative for my constituents does not bear consideration as it would probably involve an entire month of flaring,” she said.

Mid Scotland and Fife Green MSP Mark Ruskell said: “What Exxon Mobil means by remedial maintenance remains to be seen, but the closure provides an opportunity for the Scottish Government to wake up to the issue and take action.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are clear that prolonged, unplanned flaring is unacceptable.

“The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is currently responding to the latest flaring incident and carrying out a formal investigation into prolonged unplanned flaring earlier this year. We understand Sepa plans to issue further statements on its regulatory position in relation to the plant in the near future.”

Sepa is continuing to carry out air quality and noise monitoring at several locations in Auchtertool, Lochgelly and Donibristle, which showed air quality was “in line with expectations of controlled flaring events”.

It said there will be a “significant announcement” next week about investment to alleviate flaring.

“It must be a major incident if it’s closing for a month. The amount of money they’ll be losing is a good indication of how serious this is. JAMES GLEN, MOSSMORRAN ACTION GROUP

Flaring at the Mossmorran plant, which will now be shut down for around four weeks to allow for maintenance and to get to the root cause of problems. Picture: Steve Brown.