The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Plant blasted for further flaring despite warning
Concern among local community as emergency services arrive at the scene
A Mossmorran operator came under fire for more flaring at the chemical plant, a month after it was issued a final warning.
Locals were alarmed when seven fire engines and other emergency vehicles descended on Fife Ethylene Plant, near Cowdenbeath, on Saturday evening.
A pump had failed and it is expected flaring, which is causing disruption in surrounding towns and villages, could go on for days.
ExxonMobil Chemical and fellow site operator Shell UK were told last month by environment watchdog Sepa they had breached controls during prolonged flaring in June last year.
The firm apologised for the latest incident and insisted there was no danger to the public.
But Cowdenbeath councillor Darren Watt said he was “deeply disappointed and extremely concerned”.
He said: “This is another serious incident which caused serious distress throughout the area as news emerged via social media that numerous emergency vehicles were in attendance.
“This will be the third incident since the major incident last June which went on for nine days, and they have received a final warning from Sepa regarding that with the other two still under investigation.
“Ultimately this is another PR disaster, not just for the company but for the area itself. The people of Cowdenbeath and the surrounding villages deserve so much better.”
In a community statement issued yesterday, the firm said emergency services had attended as a precaution as it isolated the pump.
Sonia Bingham, FEP plant manager, said: “We are working round the clock with our specialist suppliers to install a replacement pump and restore normal operations.
“It is not possible to predict precisely at this stage when in the next few days we will return to normal operations, but we are doing everything we can to do this as soon as possible, while at the same time minimising the size of the flare and any resulting disturbance to the community.
“The flare is an essential part of the plant’s safety systems and there is no danger to local communities or employees.”
James Glen, chairman of the Mossmorran Action Group, demanded to know the full extent of the equipment failure, what had leaked and any risks.
He said: “Easy apologies from ExxonMobil bring no comfort to residents suffering the fear and stress created by yet another emergency flaring period when the operators are under a final warning and are still under investigation for two other emergencies in the last year.”
Sepa confirmed it had been notified of the flaring by ExxonMobil Chemical and said its officers were in the area assessing the impact.
It said: “Sepa officers are engaging with the operators and will monitor against the site’s licence conditions.”