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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

SPRI update

Date published: 01 October 2024

SEPA published the 2023 Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data set on 1st October 2024, which can be accessed on SEPA's website. Data for 2007 onwards for SEPA regulated industrial sites are available in SEPA's SPRI tool on Scotland's environment web.

For 2023, ExxonMobil improved its SPRI estimate of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) from the site. This includes changes to benzene and methane emissions from the Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant in Fife, using more accurate information following fugitive emission assessments. This has improved the estimates of benzene emissions, which are lower than previously estimated, whilst methane emissions are higher than previously estimated.

Methane emissions from the site are widely diffused and above ground, so don't represent a health concern to the local community, which would only arise due to any methane in enclosed spaces. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas and also contributes to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is monitored by SEPA in the vicinity of the site.

SEPA monitoring has confirmed that concentrations of the pollutants assessed are currently well below the air quality objectives at local residential areas.

View previous updates

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