'Deep concern' and 'disappointment' as politicians react to news of Fife Ethylene Plant closure
News that the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran is to close early next year has been met with deep concern and disappointment by local politicians.
Workers at the site, near Cowdenbeath, were told of the closure – which puts around 400 jobs at risk – in a meeting on Tuesday morning.
The plant, which manufactures the base material for plastics, will close in February according to owners ExxonMobil.
The company said they had failed to find a potential buyer and the current economic and policy environment combined with market conditions, high supply costs and plant efficiency “do not create a competitive future for the site”.
It is understood the closure puts 400 jobs at risk with about half of the jobs affected directly employed by the owners. Other jobs impacted include contractors.
The news was described as a “devastating blow” by Fife Council leader David Ross.
He said: “I am deeply disappointed by ExxonMobil’s decision to close the Mossmorran plant, which puts the jobs of around 180 staff, 250 contractors, and many more in the supply chain and local economy at risk. This announcement is a devastating blow to the dedicated workforce, their families, and the wider communities who have supported this facility for decades.
“What makes this decision even more concerning is the lack of meaningful engagement with local stakeholders before it was announced. This approach falls short of the responsibility we expect from major employers operating in Fife.
“Mossmorran has been a cornerstone of our industrial landscape, and its closure will have far-reaching implications.
"Our immediate priority is to work with the Scottish and UK Governments, trade unions, and partners to ensure robust support for affected employees and contractors. I will be calling for the establishment of a Task Force to address the impacts on employees and local communities.
“Fife Council stands ready to do everything within its power to support those affected.”
Kirkcaldy MSP David Torrance expressed deep concern over the news which he said is “devastating for our communities”.
He said: “This facility has been a cornerstone of Fife’s economy for decades, supporting hundreds of skilled jobs and countless families across the region. Today’s announcement puts more than 400 roles at risk, including around 180 directly employed staff and over 200 contractors, and the uncertainty this creates for workers and their families cannot be overstated.
“My immediate priority is to ensure that every affected worker receives the support they need. I will be pressing both the Scottish and UK Governments, alongside ExxonMobil, to guarantee fair redundancy packages and retraining opportunities.
“I will work closely with Unions, Fife Council, and my Scottish Government colleagues to explore every option for safeguarding jobs and creating new opportunities in Fife. Our workforce has the skills and experience to play a leading role in Scotland’s energy future, and I will fight to make sure they have that chance.”
Fellow SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing, who represents the Cowdenbeath constituency, said it was “very concerning indeed”.
She said: “Losing the plant will be a huge jobs blow to my constituency and to the wider economy across Fife and Scotland.
“I will be seeking meetings with ExxonMobil, the Scottish Government and the UK Government – they need to work together and see what can still be done to avert this dreadful outcome and I have asked the Scottish Government for an urgent statement.
“Whilst having always urged ExxonMobil to go further and faster on environmental measures to reduce negative impacts on local communities with light and noise pollution, and indeed welcomed extensive recent works to provide for greater use of and more sophisticated ground flaring, I certainly recognised the important role they played locally.
“The effect on the local economy cannot be understated here. The Fife Ethylene Plant has provided lots of skilled and well-paid jobs, there are many local contractors that will be impacted, and important questions must be asked about what this might mean for the Shell’s neighbouring NGL Plant who supply ethane to the FEP.
“The biggest and most direct impact will, of course, be on those who are losing their jobs, and I know that there will be a great deal of anger, uncertainty and fear for the future out there.
“ExxonMobil must not simply walk away from their responsibilities to those who are losing their jobs and I want to hear how they intend to work – alongside both the Scottish and UK Governments – to help those who have just had the rug pulled out from under them.
“Perhaps the most worrying thing about the reports I have seen is that ExxonMobil had been in talks with the UK Government, but did not get what they needed to secure the future of the facility. Is this Grangemouth all over again? Labour seem to be prepared to do whatever it takes for jobs in England, but it seems Scotland simply doesn’t matter to them.”