An initial meeting of a joint taskforce set up following the news that the Exxon Mobil plant at Mossmorran will close in 2026 is expected to be held before the end of the year.

Fife Ethylene Plant is set to shut in February with the loss of around 400 jobs.

The news sparked a major response from politicians at local and national level with two summits already held in the Kingdom.

Now, Councillor David Ross, leader of Fife Council, has given an update to the local authority’s Cabinet Committee, confirming the focus and priority of all work and talks was the workers who face a bleak new year.

This closure will put more than 400 jobs at risk

placeholder image — This closure will put more than 400 jobs at risk

Fife Council has been asked to lead on the joint workforce but Cllr Ross said it will be a “collaborative” effort.

“The closure announcement came as a considerable shock to most of us,” he said. “I am hoping that we will have an initial meeting before Christmas with the two governments and key agencies again and regular briefings will be circulated to councillors,” he said.

“In the meantime, council officers have been extremely busy engaging at an operational level with PACE, the redundancy agency, Scottish Enterprise, the DWP and ExxonMobil themselves to get the necessary information and start mitigation.

“In particular focusing on the direct employees, contractors, wider supply chain and the local community. An action plan is being drawn up.

“The first priority has to be the work force and the wider supply chain and it is a very regrettable position but we need to do the best we can to get the best outcome possible for these groups of staff.”