Mossmorran flaring investigation launched
Scotland’s environmental watchdog SEPA today launched a formal investigation to the latest flaring episode at Mossmorran.
Over 600 complaints have been received from the public during five days of flaring at the Fife Ethylene Plant.
The latest incident comes a year after the operator ExxonMobile Chemical were given ‘final letter warnings’ by SEPA.
Terry A’Hearn, SEPA’s CEO, said today, “Every day, SEPA works to protect and enhance Scotland’s environment and compliance with Scotland’s environmental rules is simply non-negotiable.
“In addition to working hard to ensure ExxonMobil brings a halt to the flaring as quickly as possible, we have also launched this investigation into the incident.
“The unprecedented number of complaints we have received is a clear message and it’s one that we have heard powerfully and clearly. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to help us understand the impacts of this flaring, and I encourage people to continue to report to us.
“The Mossmorran complex is a major industrial facility, where this type of flaring is a legitimate safety mechanism, but it’s been happening too often, and the current level and extent of the flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited is unacceptable.”
Certainly lights the night sky up in Fife, but the worse the crude ie heavy Saudi Arabian crude, the more impurities there are in it and flaring is the process of getting rid of the gases…. there is no way north sea oil is ever used to make petrol/diesel as it’s very light crude and is used for lubricants….be thankful there’s only one flare stack there…
All very well saying theres a formal investigation, but if there was a final warning sent last year, would we not expect Mossmorran to be prosecuted this time? Any time I’ve seen this before, the flaring went on for a maximum of two or three days. This time, its 5 days and will be more.
About time they were fined.