(Image courtesy of SEPA)
The Mossmorran complex is located near Cowdenbeath and Lochgelly, in the heart of Fife. It consists of two neighbouring plants: the Fife Natural Gas Liquids (Fife NGL) plant operated by Shell U.K. Limited, and the Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) operated by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited.
The Shell Fife Natural Gas Liquids plant (FNGL) receives Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) from the St. Fergus gas terminal in Aberdeen. The incoming natural gas liquid is separated at FNGL into propane, ethane, butane and natural gasoline.
The ethane is sent to the adjoining ExxonMobil Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) and the other products are sent off-site to the adjacent Avanti Gas Terminal and to Braefoot Bay Marine Terminal for export.
The ExxonMobil FEP produces ethylene from ethane through a process known as “thermal or steam cracking”. Additional ethane can be received from Ineos Chemical Grangemouth Limited via a pipeline.
Ethylene is either exported by ship via the ExxonMobil terminal at Braefoot Bay, or to other consumers in the UK via the cross-country ethylene distribution system.
The plants are regulated by both the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), to meet the regulators’ strict safety and environmental standards.
SEPA have a statutory responsibility to ensure the regulated processes on the site do not exceed European air quality objectives.
Other organisations involved in regulating the site include Public Health Scotland, Fife Council, NHS Fife, and Forth Ports.
It's the responsibility of affected Councils to set up and run a community liaison committee, according to the original 1977 application for outline planning permission. This became the Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Liaison Committee.
The Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Independent Air Quality Monitoring Review Group (the Review Group) was also formed. It provides advice and recommendations to Fife Council (formerly Fife Regional Council and Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy District Councils) regarding the monitoring of air emissions arising from the operations at the Mossmorran plants and the Braefoot Bay terminal facilities (operated by Shell UK Limited and ExxonMobil Chemical Limited).
Fife Council’s Environment and Protective Services Subcommittee (September 2020) agreed the Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Committee would be the recognised forum for community oversight, where issues and concerns from the community can be raised.
In addition to the Community and Safety Committee, three additional Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs) were formed, each with specific remits:
The EAGs carry out tasks assigned by the Community and Safety Committee including:
EAG meetings are held as considered necessary but are generally once a year. Reports on air quality are issued on an annual basis, and reports on noise, vibration and light are produced as required.
The three EAGs include representatives from Fife Council, local Community Councils and public health professionals, to assist with relevant, timely and informative communications for local communities.
Local authorities have a statutory duty to review and assess local air quality in their areas. These air quality objectives are contained within the National Air Quality Strategy for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which was last updated in 2007.
As a member of the Expert Advisory Group on Air Quality Fife Council's responsibility is to:
Fife Council does not conduct air quality monitoring during flaring events because this is undertaken by SEPA as part of its duties under the Pollution Prevention and Control regulations.
The latest report is the 2021 Annual Report (published June 2022)
Back To TopAs a member of the Expert Advisory Group on Noise, Light and Vibration Fife Council's responsibility is to:
SEPA also have statutory responsibilities relating to noise. Please visit the SEPA website for more information.
Back To TopMossmorran and Braefoot Bay Independent Air Quality Reports:
Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Committee Meetings/ Action points:
Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Expert Advisory Group on Air Quality Meetings/ Action points:
Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Expert Advisory Group on Communications Meetings/ Action points:
Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Expert Advisory Group on Noise, Vibration and Light Meetings/ Action points:
Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Community and Safety Committee Constitution and Terms of Reference
Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
General information and advice is available from SEPA:
The Fife Ethylene Plant - is operated by ExxonMobil.
The Fife Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant - operated by Shell U.K. Limited
The Mossmorran Action Group
A campaign group formed by residents from several communities around the Mossmorran Plant