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Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Complexes

Mossmorran is situated near Cowdenbeath, 20km north of Edinburgh. The Mossmorran complex consists of two neighbouring plants: the Fife Natural Gas Liquids (FNGL) Plant operated by Shell U.K. Limited and the Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) operated by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited.

Latest update

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited fined £176,000 for six days of flaring that sounded like a jet engine

Date published: 28 October 2025

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited was fined £176,000 at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on 28th October 2025 after pleading guilty to breaching its environmental permit during six days of continuous flaring at its Cowdenbeath site in April 2019. 

The conviction follows an extensive regulatory investigation by SEPA involving specialist regulatory, technical, scientific and enforcement staff, which resulted in referral to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) in July 2020. 

Read more in our media release ExxonMobil Chemical Limited fined £176,000 for six days of flaring that sounded like a jet engine 

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What we have done

We continue to monitor air quality and noise in community locations. Communities around the Mossmorran Complex are now able to see the air quality in their area in close to real time, with the launch of our new monitoring network.

It follows on from community participation in the design of a new air quality monitoring network, and a refreshed online regulatory hub designed to make it easier than ever to find information about our regulation of the Fife Natural Gas Liquids Plant and Fife Ethylene Plant. 

Find out more about our new monitoring network on our air quality monitoring page.

More information