The Mossmorran complex consists of two neighbouring plants: the Fife Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant operated by Shell U.K. Limited, and the Fife Ethylene Plant operated by ExxonMobil. They are part of the North Sea Brent oil and gas field system. Methane gas is extracted at the St Fergus Gas Plant near Peterhead and piped to the Mossmorran facilities. The Braefoot Bay terminal supplies products to the Mossmorran complex and together the plants provide approximately 20% of the UK domestic gas supply.
Who regulates Mossmorran?
The site is regulated by a number of organisations, including the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), who have a statutory responsibility to ensure the regulated processes on the site do not exceed European air quality objectives.
Other organisations involved include: Fife Council, the Health and Safety Executive, NHS Fife, Health Protection Scotland and Forth Ports.
NHS Fife Public Health
NHS Fife Public Health published a report on the Health Impacts of Flaring at the Mossmorran Plant in Fife on the 30th October 2019.
The report was written following concerns raised by communities near Mossmorran.
NHS Fife’s public health team offered to collate information currently available at the time and analyse existing data as part of the organisation’s commitment to protecting and improving the health of people and their communities and its on-going contribution to partnership working.
The report provides a summary of work carried out by or for NHS Fife public health to investigate and assess health-related claims with respect to flaring at the plant and describes a considerable degree of physical and psychological disturbance caused to people in the vicinity of Mossmorran.
Air quality
NHS Fife Public Health are also a member of the Mossmorran & Braefoot Bay Independent Air Quality Monitoring Review Group. The Review Group provides advice and recommendations to Fife Council regarding monitoring emissions from the operations at the Mossmorran plants and the Braefoot Bay terminal facilities.
The Review Group consists of an Independent Chair and representatives from Fife Council, SEPA and the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM). Representatives of ExxonMobil and Shell attend the Review Group meetings by invitation.
The Review Group liaises with local communities and local Community Councils.
For the latest air quality reports visit:
https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/environment2/environmental-health/air-quality
Further information
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
General information and advice is available from SEPA:
- Visit the SEPA website at www.sepa.org.uk/mossmorran for frequently asked questions, newsletters, updates during flaring events and videos
- Report environmental incidents on SEPA's 24 hour Pollution Hotline by calling 0800 807 060. Find information about how and what to report at www.sepa.org.uk/contact
- Email general queries to community@sepa.org.uk. This email account is monitored weekdays during office hours only
The Fife Ethylene Plant operated by ExxonMobil.
The Fife Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Plant operated by Shell U.K. Limited
A campaign group formed by residents from several communities around the Mossmorran Plant.