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Exxon Mobil has announced the impending closure of a section of its petrochemical facility in Fife, placing hundreds of employee positions at risk. The Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) in Mossmorran, which has been operational for approximately 40 years, is scheduled to shut down in February. A company spokesperson cited the United Kingdom’s current economic challenges, policy environment, and market conditions as key reasons for the decision, stating there is no “competitive future” for the site.
The closure is expected to impact up to 400 workers, including both permanent employees and contractors. The Mossmorran site has specialized in producing ethylene through a process called thermal or steam cracking. Although Exxon Mobil has been searching for a potential buyer for several months, it has now confirmed its plans to dismantle and clean up the facility after production ceases. The company also intends to undertake a thorough consultation with staff before the shutdown. Shell’s operations, which handle natural gas liquids processing at Mossmorran, and its adjacent St Fergus site in Aberdeenshire, are reportedly unaffected by the closure.
Exxon Mobil described FEP as a “cornerstone” of the UK’s chemical manufacturing sector. The company acknowledged the wider difficulties faced by domestic industries operating within a policy framework that it feels hastens the decline of crucial sectors and high-value employment. “We understand and regret the impact this will have on our loyal and valued workforce, contractors and local communities,” the energy giant emphasized, affirming their commitment to providing support and ensuring safe operations until production ends. Local MP Melanie Ward, representing Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, condemned the closure as “devastating” and expressed anger over reports that contract workers were barred from the site abruptly and that employees were left uncertain about redundancy details. She criticized Exxon for being uncooperative during months of dialogue and pledged support for constituents needing assistance.
In response, UK Energy Security Minister Michael Shanks addressed the House of Commons, expressing concern over the developments in Fife and highlighting the government’s readiness to provide assistance to affected workers. He noted that officials have been in consistent communication with Exxon Mobil, which faces significant global challenges, including the recent closure of another chemical plant in France. A UK government spokesperson reiterated that while every possible measure was attempted to keep the site operational, the company’s international difficulties drove the decision. The focus, the statement said, must now shift toward supporting employees in the upcoming months.
The closure has drawn strong reactions across Scotland. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described the news as “extremely disappointed” and characterized the loss of high-value employment as a major setback for Scotland’s economy. She announced plans to establish a task force aimed at exploring potential government responses, while urging the UK government to consider ways to help affected workers. Similarly, Scottish Conservative business spokesman Murdo Fraser warned that the shutdown would deliver another blow to the local economy, compounding the effects of recent job losses at the Grangemouth refinery. Meanwhile, Scottish Green MSP Mark Ruskell criticized ExxonMobil, accusing the company of abandoning workers despite reporting substantial profits, and argued that Scotland’s green industrial future should involve workers and trade unions more closely.
The shutdown at Mossmorran is particularly striking given the broader context of energy costs and industrial operations in the UK. The plant relies on natural gas supplied through pipelines from the North Sea via St Fergus, a region that remains central to discussions about the future of fossil fuel extraction in the country. While some analysts assert that increasing exploration licenses would not significantly alter global fossil fuel prices, the closures of facilities like Grangemouth and Fife underscore growing concerns about the pace and fairness of the energy transition. For the hundreds of workers impacted at these sites, the shift to a greener economy appears far from smooth or just
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