Mosmorran: New schedule confirmed for £140m investment plan

A major investment at Mossmorran is on schedule to begin next year.

The £140m project at Fife Ethylene Plant was delayed by lockdown, but owners, ExxonMobil, have confirmed it will begin next April.

The work will include a new elevated flare tip which will help to reduce the noise and vibration that has become a major source of contention with local communities and politicians.

The plant said the coronavirus pandemic had had a direct impact on its original schedule as materials and equipment were delayed, and specialist teams could not be brought in to do the work.

The new date reflects the fact that this work in the North Sea – from where the plant takes its ethane feed - cannot be conducted during winter months when the need for domestic gas supplies is at its highest.

Jacob McAlister, plant manager, said: “We want to update our host communities that we are on schedule to begin our work in April.

“Our commitment is to the health and safety of our employees, contractors and host communities and, therefore, our processes comply with all laws and regulations.

“This project is part of our long-standing plant investment cycle and there is no cost saving as a result of the adjusted project timeline.’’

The new elevated flare tip is a major project for the plant.

Mr McAlister said: “We know our communities are particularly interested in the new flare tip and have asked why this can’t be installed on its own.

“In order to properly complete the installation, flaring will occur prior to the work and upon re-start so we would want to do this only once alongside the other investment work – this is the right community and environmental decision.

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“And, weighing in at almost 10 tonnes and fitted on a 100 metre tower, its installation requires a team of specialists and use of one of the country’s largest cranes, both of which are in high demand”

He said FEP continued to work closely with the regulators on this new schedule and will provide further updates to the community as work progresses.

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