The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Protesters decry ethylene ‘horror’
Protesters donned Halloween masks to highlight the Mos sm or ran “horror show ” as they staged a third weekend of action at the Fife plant.
More than 30 people braved the wind and rain to call for the closure of the ExxonMobil and Shell operations, which between them have more than 200 employees.
The demonstrations were prompted by a bout of flaring at the Cowdenbeath site last month, which resulted in more than 700 complaints to environment watchdog Sepa.
They are being co-ordinated by Aberdour woman Rebecca Davies, who said communities were sick of the environmental impacts of the petrochemical plant, as well as the fear caused by regular flaring and worries the effects on health.
She has launched a campaign called Actions Speak Louder Than Words as a way of organising local protests.
Flaring is a safety mechanism but the resulting light pollution, noise and vibrations have caused alarm among people living nearby.
An NHS Fife report last year concluded there was no evidence the plant had affected cancer rates or air quality but said it had caused s ign i f ican t psychological and physical disturbance, including sleep disturbance, anxiety and stress.
As protesters chanted “ExxonMobil’s got to go, we don’ t need this horror show”, Rebecca said: “We have some good testimonies of how people feel.
“There is a lot of extreme stress and mental health issues and people are on their knees emotionally.”
James Glen, of the Mossmorran Action Group, said: “People are now taking direct action by protesting at the plant because of the horror show residents are being subjected to.”
Scottish Greens candidate Mags Hall said: “People are scared for the future of their families and their community if we fail to tackle climate change emissions, as well as addressing the ongoing safety concerns at the plant.”
Sepa submitted a report to the Crown Office earlier this year seeking a prosecution over prolonged flaring in April 2019, and First Minister Ni cola Sturgeon has pledged to consider an independent inquiry into the plant’s future.
An Exxon Mobil spokesman said: “We understand the frustration that is caused by the use of our flare, and our commitment to reducing frequency is underlined by an additional £140 million investment in key infrastructure and new technologies due to begin in April.
“The Mossmorran facility is an integral par t of Scotland’s energy supply, meeting the needs of homes and businesses nationwide.
“Furthermore, Fife Ethylene Plant directly supports the manufacturing supply chain for important products such as medical supplies , lightweight electric vehicles and food packaging.”