Exxon have confirmed the closure of their ethylene plant at Mossmorran.

Workers and contractors were informed on Tuesday morning and in a statement, the US giants said:

‘’We plan to shut down our Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) in February 2026, subject to a full employee consultation. 

‘’We assessed various options to continue production and tested the market for a potential buyer, but the UK’s current economic and policy environment combined with market conditions, high supply costs and plant efficiency do not create a competitive future for the site.

‘’FEP has been a cornerstone of chemical production in the UK for 40 years, and its closure reflects the challenges of operating in a policy environment that is accelerating the exit of vital industries, domestic manufacturing, and the high-value jobs they provide. 

‘’We understand and regret the impact this will have on our loyal and valued workforce, contractors and local communities. Our priorities are now to support our people through this challenging period, while ensuring continued safe operations through to end of production.’’

There are reports that almost 200 contractors had their access permits cancelled this morning as they arrived for work.

It’s thought at this time that the Shell NGL plant is unaffected by today’s announcement. Both Shell and Exxon have been approached for comment.

Cowdenbeath SNP MSP, Annabelle Ewing told us:

“The news that ExxonMobil plans to close the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran are very concerning indeed.  The loss of the plant would be a huge jobs blow to my constituency and to the wider economy across Fife and Scotland.  I will be seeking meetings with Exxon, the Scottish Government and the UK Government to see what can still be done to avert this dreadful outcome and I have asked the Scottish Government for an urgent statement.

“The most worrying thing about the reports I have seen is that ExxonMobil had been in talks with the UK Government, but did not get what they needed to secure the future of the facility.  Is this Grangemouth all over again?  Labour seem to be prepared to do whatever it takes for jobs in England, but it seems Scotland simply doesn’t matter to them.”

Cowdenbeath & Kirkcaldy Labour MP, Melanie Ward said in reaction to the news:

“It is devastating that ExxonMobil is to close the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran.

“I’m furious that contract workers appear to have been locked out of the site this morning. News reaching me suggests that Exxon staff, many of whom have decades of service, have been told they will lose their jobs but have no idea of the redundancy package they will receive.”

She continued, “I am in close touch with the Business Secretary and Scottish Secretary to ensure that all options for the plant are fully explored.

“I am in regular contact with the GMB and Unite unions, as they continue to assist workers affected by this decision. Constituents who are in need of support should contact my office and we will do all we can to assist.”

Exxon invested in a multi-million pound upgrade of the Mossmorran plant after a major flaring incident in 2019, leading to a £176,000 fine from the regulator SEPA in October this year.

Cllr Darren Watt also reacted to the news today on social media, “I sincerely hope workers and contractors are being fully supported through this process and that meaningful opportunities for retraining and alternative employment are available.”

The SNP’s Holyrood candidate for Cowdenbeath, Cllr David Barratt said on social media:

“My thoughts are with employees on the site and there needs to be support for them. This is difficult news, especially in the run up to Christmas.

“It is essential that both the Scottish and UK Governments meet urgently with the company and with workforce representatives to understand what can still be done, to protect as many jobs as possible, and to deliver the credible industrial strategy this site and this community has needed for years.”