Mossmorran flaring: Restart of chemical plant delayed

The plant was shut down in August after numerous flaring incidents

The restart of a Fife chemical plant which was temporarily shut down to make it more reliable has been delayed until next year, BBC Scotland has learned.

Exxonmobil said its Mossmorran plant would be powered up some time in January.

The delay means there will be no elevated flaring, which is involved in a restart, over Christmas and New Year.

The initial plans had been for the plant, which was having two boilers fixed, to be restarted in November.

The date was then moved to mid-December, which caused fears within the community about flaring on Christmas Day.

The plant was initially shut down in August

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it would not be unreasonable for communities "to ask those in charge at Mossmorran to halt activities for the whole of the holidays".

The plant was initially shut down in August amid criticism from locals who complained of ongoing flaring incidents.

Mossmorran Action Group said it was relieved by the continued shutdown.

Campaigner Linda Holt said: "It is hugely relieving that the very severe start-up flaring will now not happen over the entire festive period."

'Clarity will be welcomed'

Jacob McAlister, plant manager of Exxonmobil's Fife Ethylene Plant, said: "This will mean that there will be no elevated flaring from FEP in the coming weeks, merely the small amount of vapour that has been running through the flare since we shut down our operations.

"I believe, based on recent discussions with local representatives, that clarity about the status of the works for the remainder of this year will be welcomed."

BBC Scotland asked Exxonmobil if it had identified the fault with the boilers. However, the company said it was unable to discuss the issue until a Health and Safety Executive investigation had been completed.

It is understood two blasts happened on two separate occasions in two different boilers in August.

The blasts in the boilers occurred as pipes became over-pressurised and burst.