Defence firm's plan to turn Mossmorran into weapons factory

A defence firm has submitted proposals to convert the former Mossmorran chemical plant into a factory producing weapons components.

The Fife Ethylene Plant near Cowdenbeath ceased production in February after 40 years as its owner ExxonMobil said it was no longer financially viable.

More than 400 staff were affected by the closure. The energy giant said it anticipates it will take until 2028 to fully decommission the site and and make it safe for dismantling.

Last month, defence contractor TBG International Limited submitted a pre-application screening request to Fife Council for the conversion of the site into an "energetics manufacturing facility".

Energetic materials are the explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics that are key components in weapons.

The plans would see the construction of "process buildings, earth-covered storage magazines with associated earthworks, ancillary buildings, access, parking, landscaping, drainage and associated infrastructure".

They would also see existing offices and warehouses at the site altered and re-used.

A letter from Fife Council to the Hampshire-based firm indicates the proposed development will require an environmental impact assessment to be carried out.

The UK government announced a £9m investment in new projects at Mossmorran in March.

At the time it said the site was being "actively marketed" to potential investors.

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said the funding was contingent on suitable investment proposals being brought forward and "appropriate commercial partners being identified".

Last year ExxonMobil was fined £176,000 after pleading guilty to flaring emission breaches at Mossmorran.

Scotland's environmental watchdog Sepa had received hundreds of complaints in April 2019 when flaring created excessive noise - described as sounding like a jet engine - for almost a week.

Some of those complaining lived five-and-a-half miles away in Kirkcaldy and local residents said they feared a major explosion was imminent.

Others claimed it disturbed their sleep and caused their houses to shake.

Sheriff James Williamson at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court said it caused considerable anxiety to the community.

ExxonMobil said there was no actual danger but it identified failings and made improvements.

Sepa said the 2019 flaring sparked the highest number of complaints it ever received for a single environmental event.

Chemical flaring is used to relieve pressure without simply pumping potentially dangerous chemicals into the environment.

It generally happens when a problem has arisen and gas which cannot be processed properly is burned.

Flaring can represent a large loss of otherwise valuable products and energy capacity.