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The Scottish and UK administrations have engaged in what they describe as “constructive” discussions aimed at supporting employees at the Mossmorran chemical plant located in Fife. This ethylene production facility is scheduled to cease operations in February, which will directly affect over 400 staff members and contractors. Scottish Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee joined Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander in talks with representatives from Fife Council, trade unions, and local businesses to address the looming closure.
Confusion arose in the days leading up to these talks, as both governments scheduled separate meetings on the matter. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes was set to speak with Exxon Mobil, the plant’s owner, on Tuesday, following invitations from both sides to attend different gatherings. Alexander had urged Forbes to join the Monday meeting, emphasizing that workers “deserved unity rather than political squabbles,” while Forbes called on the UK government to undertake “urgent action” to alleviate the situation.
Prior to their joint discussions, Alexander revealed on BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast program that no “serious commercial offer” had been presented to keep the Mossmorran site operational, citing losses of £1 million per month. Despite the financial challenges, Alexander described the meeting as “constructive and purposeful,” praising a “Team Scotland” approach aimed at benefiting the workforce. He also indicated that he had approached the UK government’s Office for Investment to facilitate any potential buyers for the facility. Additionally, Alexander mentioned that Babcock, which operates the nearby Rosyth shipyard, expressed interest in exploring opportunities to hire some of the skilled Mossmorran workers.
Before the talks, Forbes warned that any perception of discord between the UK and Scottish governments would only harm the affected workforce. She asserted that the UK government held the “levers for an industrial intervention,” pointing to the example of the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe, and highlighted its capacity to take “urgent action to address the high cost of energy.” Price concerns, particularly rising energy costs, had been cited by Exxon Mobil’s management as a key reason for doubting the site’s future competitiveness. Following the meeting, McKee stated, “We are working with the UK government and Fife Council to achieve a positive outcome for workers and will do what we can to ensure the focus remains on them and the wider community affected by the closure at Mossmorran.” He also mentioned that Forbes planned to meet workers and trade unions to discuss possible measures for mitigating the closure’s impact.
Fife Council leader David Ross described the plant’s impending shutdown as a “devastating blow” for both employees and the local community, calling for the decision to be paused. He assured that the council would collaborate with all partners to explore future opportunities for the site and the broader Fife economy, pledging to support those affected and help secure a positive future for the region.
In related developments, Alexander announced that the UK government intends to allocate up to £14.5 million in the forthcoming Budget to support Grangemouth, where the oil refinery ceased crude oil processing earlier this year. Scottish Conservative energy spokesperson Douglas Lumsden criticized the current approach, declaring that efforts such as task forces and summits are consequences of “Labour and the SNP’s failed policies.” He warned that job losses related to oil and gas will persist unless both governments endorse further North Sea drilling and the Energy Profits Levy is abandoned
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