Mossmorran and Braefoot Bay Complexes

The following community notice has been shared with SEPA regarding planned works at the Shell-operated Fife NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) plant.

"On Monday 18 and Tuesday 19 March we will carry out routine maintenance of important safety equipment at site.

"In order for this work to be completed safely we need to remove the hydrocarbons from some of our tanks which may result in periods of flaring from our elevated flare stack during this time. We do not expect each period to be for more than a few hours and as usual, we will prioritise the use of the ground flares to minimise the impact on the community where possible."

SEPA expects the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

More information, including contact details for the Shell Fife NGL plant, is provided on the community notices section of their website.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The following community notice was shared with SEPA on Friday 9th February:

"Further to my communication on Tuesday, I am pleased to advise you that we have now safely completed our planned maintenance and that our site has returned to normal production.

"We have also completed the use of our Enclosed Ground Flare in support of this work.

"I thank you again for your patience and understanding and do hope that this essential work did not cause any disruption to you or the wider community.

"Should you have any question, do please let us know."

Local residents may see or hear some additional activity associated with this work over the next 48 hours, but the new Enclosed Ground Flare (EGF) is expected to contain the necessary flaring.

If low clouds are present, there may be a visible glow above the EGF. The EGF has no exposed flame, is designed to be completely smokeless, with no vibration and is no louder than a petrol lawnmower when operating.

All steps are being taken to minimise any disturbance to local residents.
Read more on the EGF on ExxonMobil's website.

Local residents may see or hear some additional activity associated with this work, but the new Enclosed Ground Flare (EGF) is containing the necessary flaring.

As their teams work towards re-starting operating units, there may be a short, intermittent use of elevated flare as excess gas is moved through the system to the EGF.

During last night, very low clouds may have created a visible glow above the EGF. The EGF has no exposed flame, is designed to be completely smokeless, with no vibration and is no louder than a petrol lawnmower when operating.

All steps are being taken to minimise any disturbance to local residents.

Read more on the EGF on ExxonMobil's website.

Monday 31st July to Sunday 6th August. The following community notice was shared with SEPA on Friday 28th July:

"Next week we begin a planned "Turnaround" at the Shell Fife NGL plant. The Turnaround is an important activity for the maintenance of the plant so that we can continue to operate effectively to our safety standards and industry regulations.

"In order for this work to be carried out safely we need to empty one of the plant's modules of hydrocarbons, which will require use of the flare system. As usual, we will prioritise the use of the ground flares to minimise the impact on the community but you may see occasional periods of low intensity flaring in the elevated stack between Monday 31 July and Sunday 6 August. We do not expect each period to be for more than a few hours.

"We have informed the regulator SEPA of our intention.

"Please contact us if you have any questions or comments. Our notices and contact details are also on the plant website."

We expect the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

SEPA's ongoing air quality and noise monitoring remains in place.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has issued an update on their website, announcing its new Enclosed Ground Flare (EGF) has formally been brought into operation.

Since 2018, SEPA has played a crucial role in bringing the Mossmorran Complex into regulatory compliance through a series of stringent measures to reduce flaring impacts on local communities.

We welcome the completion of this significant installation of a new EGF at the ExxonMobil Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) at Mossmorran.

Over the coming months we will be carrying out a full audit of the new ground flaring system and closely monitoring for compliance.

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 a new monitoring network from SEPA.

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 SEPA's regulation of the Fife Natural Liquids Plant and Fife Ethylene Plant.

Access the SEPA Monitoring Air Quality Network.

SEPA has granted a variation to ExxonMobil Chemical Limited to bring the new enclosed ground flare into the site permit. The application included a request to amend the completion date to 30 June 2023, due to delays with the construction work.

SEPA has been in regular contact with the project team on progress with the enclosed ground flare. While some delays have been experiences due to supplier issues, weather and the complicated construction work, SEPA is satisfied that work should be completed by the end of June 2023.

The variation also:

• Sets the definition of major flaring at a level that is considered reasonable given current knowledge on the performance of the new elevated flare tip and EGF.

Includes administrative changes;

• to remove out of date conditions relating to one-off reports and the use of temporary boilers.
• to update and clarify monitoring standards for air emissions.

The following documents are available to view.

• Variation decision document
• Variation to permit - January 2023

SEPA welcomes Shell UK Limited's community announcement about its commitment to install new, enclosed ground flares at the Mossmorran Complex.

Industrial installations undertaking specific types of activity are required to use "Best Available Techniques" (BAT) to prevent or minimise emissions and impacts on the environment. BAT will change over time as new technologies becomes available, and it is important that sites review their facilities and procedures to ensure they are using the best economically and technically viable available techniques.

In August 2019 SEPA varied the site permit requiring Shell to provide a project plan for a totally enclosed ground flare system. The new ground flares will result in reduced air emissions through improved combustion, lower noise output and reduce the use of the elevated flare. In June 2022 SEPA varied the permit to require the installation of the flares, once ExxonMobil Chemical Limited has its new ground flare capacity operational.

Having reviewed the design and timeline for Shell's project, SEPA is satisfied that the proposal is BAT and deliverable on time. The variation includes requirements for a detailed project plan to be provided to SEPA by 31 January 2023 and for the new ground flare to be operational by 31 December 2025.

Ongoing planned maintenance, plant upgrades and new infrastructure, together with SEPA's ongoing regulatory requirements and permit variations, should significantly improve the reliability of the Mossmorran Complex, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur

SEPA is aware of a short period of elevated flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited on Sunday 2 October. This occurred during a planned shutdown for maintenance work.

Flaring is now contained within the ground flares and SEPA will continue to monitor the situation until the work has been completed and site returns to normal operations. We expect the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

SEPA's ongoing air quality and noise monitoring remains in place.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The following community notice has been shared with SEPA regarding planned works at the Shell-operated Fife NGL (Natural Gas Liquids) plant. 

"As you may be aware, we recently replaced one of the Fife NGL plant’s elevated flare tips with a more modern sound-reducing tip.

"As part of this work, we have also installed a combustion-monitoring camera, which will automatically control the amount of steam being added to the flare during flaring events. Steam is used to minimise smoke and ensure full and efficient combustion of the flare.

"In order to calibrate this camera and the system, some short, intermittent periods of planned low volume flaring will be required in our elevated flare stack during daylight hours on Wednesday 31 August. We will need to turn the steam to the flare on and off so the flare will be smoky at times. We have informed the regulator SEPA of this planned work.

"We are committed to investing in and managing our operations to minimise the frequency and impact of flaring. I hope this note helps you know what to expect, and provides some insight as to why the flaring is taking place."

SEPA expects the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

More information, including contact details for the Shell Fife NGL plant, is provided on the Community Notices section of their website.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The following community notice has been shared with SEPA regarding the INEOS Grangemouth site. 

"On-going maintenance work on one of our manufacturing plants continues through today.

"As a consequence over the next 24 hours there will be spells of controlled elevated flaring from the south side of the site that may be evident to those in the vicinity. The teams will make every effort to reduce the level and duration of the flaring.

"We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may have.

"We remain committed to informing our local community and those who work nearby of any activity that might result in flaring."

SEPA continues to liaise with the site and monitor operations. We expect the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring, and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with Shell UK Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will be carrying out modifications to its steam system between Tuesday 26 April and Sunday 1 May.

This work is required as part of the project to install a new flare tip on Shell’s elevated flare and is part of the programme of improvement SEPA has required the Complex to carry out over the last few years. It is separate from the investment to install a new flare tip at ExxonMobil Chemical Limited carried out in 2021.

During the work there will be no steam available to the Shell UK Limited flare system. Steam is used to optimise combustion and minimise smoky flaring. No elevated flaring is expected from Shell’s facility as part of the work and SEPA is satisfied that the operator has plans in place to manage capacity to reduce the risk of unplanned flaring from the plant. As a result, there may be some very limited elevated flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited during the work, as it usually makes use of the Shell ground flare system. ExxonMobil’s flare is not affected by the steam outage and SEPA expects it to operate as normal during this period.

Planned maintenance, plant upgrades and new infrastructure, together with SEPA’s ongoing regulatory requirements and permit variations, should significantly improve the reliability of the Mossmorran Complex, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.

SEPA’s ongoing air quality and noise monitoring remains in place.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with Shell UK Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will be carrying out modifications to its steam system between Monday 11 April and Wednesday 20 April 2022. During the work there will be the need to have a number of short steam outages.

This work is required as part of the project to install a new flare tip on Shell’s elevated flare and is part of the programme of improvement SEPA has required the Complex to carry out over the last few years. It is separate from the investment to install a new flare tip at ExxonMobil Chemical Limited carried out in 2021.

Steam is used to optimise combustion and minimise smoky flaring. This means if either of the operators need to flare during the work there may be a short period of smoke until the steam is reinstated. While no elevated flaring is expected as part of the work, SEPA is satisfied that robust plans are in place to make sure that if this happens the steam is turned back on quickly to ensure any smoke is minimised. Work will take place during daylight hours and steam will be reinstated in the evenings and during any breaks in the work.  

Planned maintenance, plant upgrades and new infrastructure, together with SEPA’s ongoing regulatory requirements and permit variations, will significantly improve the reliability of the Mossmorran Complex, reducing the requirement for flaring and significantly reducing the community impact of flaring when it does occur.

SEPA’s ongoing air quality and noise monitoring remains in place.

Members of the public who are concerned about a potential pollution issue should contact our pollution hotline using our online reporting form. This is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In 2019 we confirmed that our air quality monitoring around the Mossmorran Complex would continue throughout the period of investment and the installation of new flare tips and ground flares. At the same time we committed to working with partner agencies with air quality responsibilities to assess future requirements.

In September 2021, we held four community engagement sessions in partnership with Fife Council and the Health and Safety Executive to listen to the needs of the community. We used the feedback to inform our review of the monitoring we undertake and how we share the results of that monitoring with the local community.

To date, our monitoring has shown no breaches of the air quality objectives, but it was clear in hearing from the community that there continues to be a concern about air quality in the area. The community asked for:

• Permanent monitoring of air quality in the communities around Mossmorran.
• Simple, easy to understand and timely data, with the ability to get more detail if required.

Why are things changing?

We have reviewed how we will monitor air quality and taking the feedback from communities into account we are planning to make some changes to how we monitor air quality and how we make information on air quality available, in a way that will hopefully provide greater reassurance to local communities. We are implementing a new monitoring plan that will:

• change the monitoring locations;
• increase the number of monitoring points;
• increase the range of air pollutants that we measure.

The new monitoring equipment will allow us to explore improved ways of presenting data and trends on the levels of the pollutants measured.

More information on the enhanced monitoring plan is available.

As part of the transition to the new monitoring programme, we carried out work between 1 and 3 March to change some of the equipment being used.

What has SEPA done so far in implementing the new monitoring plan?

A new sensor array has now been installed in Auchtertool. The benefits of this are:

• It is the same type of monitor that we will be using as part of the enhanced monitoring programme that will come online later this year.
• These units are easier to locate than the trailer we have used up to this point due to their size and power requirements and has been installed in a similar but more accessible location.
• It is the same type of unit that is being used by Fife Council as part of its air quality assessments. This means that data should be comparable, and therefore between the two organisations we will have a better picture of air quality across the county.
• It measures a similar range of pollutants as the trailer, including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter. It will also allow us to measure other pollutants of interest in the future.

The trailer of equipment that we had located at a site to the North East of the site for the last few years has been removed. The transition to our new approach and the new sensor array means the trailer is no longer required.

This is only a small change in our current monitoring. There have been no other changes to our monitoring at this time and the particulate monitors in Lochgelly, Auchertool and Donibristle and our noise monitors at Lochgelly and Auchtertool remain in place.

You can find out more about the new equipment on the AQMesh website.

What happens next?

We are committed to providing updates to the community as we continue our transition to our new approach.

We will publish more information later in the year, including:

• Information on the equipment we are installing.
• Timescales for work.
• How we will improve access to the air quality data collected.

Updates will be published on our Mossmorran hub.

In September 2021, we held four virtual community engagement sessions in partnership with Fife Council and the Health and Safety Executive. These events were a key step in listening to the needs of the community and informing our review of the monitoring we undertake around the Mossmorran complex and how we share the results of that monitoring with the local community.

Following the sessions, we have reviewed the way we will monitor air quality. Read the review paper on how we will monitor air quality at the Mossmorran Complex in the future.  

If you wish to understand more about how we monitor air quality at the Mossmorran complex, you can view the information we presented at our community engagement sessions.

If you have any questions about the paper, please email community@sepa.org.uk.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has received the following notification of planned low-level flaring at ExxonMobil Chemical Limited on Monday 4 April.

“A very small flame may be seen from our elevated flare for a period during daylight hours on Monday 4 April. This is to help our neighbouring plant conduct inspections required on shared infrastructure. The process is planned and we will work together to minimise any potential disturbance. ”

SEPA continues to monitor operations at the site. We expect the operator to make every effort to minimise the level and duration of the flaring and minimise any noise from this activity where possible.

More information, including contact details for ExxonMobil FEP, is provided in their Community Notice.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has today Thursday 31 March published its Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory (SPRI) data for 2020. This is the latest data set to be recovered and published by SEPA following the cyber-attack in December 2020.

SPRI provides a valuable picture of the amount of pollutants released in Scotland from SEPA regulated industrial sites. It is a publicly accessible electronic database which provides information for policy makers, academics and the public about the pressure Scottish industry puts on the environment through pollutant emissions. SPRI does not assess the compliance of the facilities or the health and environmental impact of the releases.

The latest data reveals greenhouse gas emissions fell by 6% between 2019 and 2020. This reduction continues the decreasing trend seen over the last 13 years, with an overall drop of around 60% since 2007.

Mossmorran Complex emissions

While the overall trend in Scotland for carbon dioxide and methane are down, the emissions for individual sites are impacted by their activities. Although ExxonMobil’s Fife Ethylene Plant was offline for a short period at the beginning of 2020, overall emissions are more in line with previous years – following a small reduction in 2019, due to an extended plant outage.

Despite the increase in emissions SEPA monitoring has not shown any impact on local air quality, it clearly demonstrates the need for a move to flaring being the exception rather than routine.

Local air quality

SEPA has conducted a wider range of air quality monitoring since January 2019, and regular air quality data reports continued to be published on our website during 2020.

SEPA’s monitoring results show no breaches of any of the air quality objectives during 2019 due to emissions from the Mossmorran Complex and all measurements were in the low band of Defra’s daily air quality index (DAQI) for all applicable pollutants.

Reported SPRI emissions

• Carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited increased from 2019, following a small reduction in 2019 due to an extended plant outage, bringing overall emissions are more in-line with previous years.
• Particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited decreased slightly.
• Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulphur oxides from Shell U.K. Limited decreased, following an increase in 2019 due to increased flaring during ExxonMobil Chemical Limited’s shutdown, bringing overall emissions are more in-line with previous years.

During Monday 7 March planned flaring at the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, one of our noise scientists attended locations in Lochgelly, Donibristle, Auchtertool and Hill of Beath to assess the noise being experienced in the community.

Our monitoring work involves us carrying out an initial assessment to judge if a more detailed assessment using the British Standard (BS 4142) will then be required. BS 4142 would use data from our noise monitors to assess impact on the community.

In this case, since flaring noise was not audible or not distinguishable above general site noise, no quantitative BS4142 assessments were undertaken. 

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is reassuring communities that it is fully engaged with ExxonMobil Chemical Limited following the operator’s community announcement that the site will make planned use of the elevated flare for a period during daytime on Monday 7 March.  

While the process will require planned elevated flaring, the agency is content that plans are in place to minimise the impacts on local residents and businesses. The flaring is required to undertake a scheduled inspection of one of the product pipelines and forms part of the HSE inspection regime. 

SEPA expects ExxonMobil to keep the duration and rate of flaring as low as possible. Noise and air quality monitoring will continue.

More information, including contact details for ExxonMobil FEP, is provided in their Community Notice.

Extension to planned flaring - Tuesday 8 March

SEPA has been advised by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited that it expects to be flaring again this morning for three to four hours at a similar rate to yesterday.  This will conclude the flaring activity.

SEPA is continuing to monitor in the local area for air quality and noise.

Noise Investigation Report - Friday 11 March
During Monday’s planned flaring at the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, one of our noise scientists attended locations in Lochgelly, Donibristle, Auchtertool and Hill of Beath to assess the noise being experienced in the community.

Our monitoring work involves us carrying out an initial assessment to judge if a more detailed assessment using the British Standard (BS 4142) will then be required. BS 4142 would use data from our noise monitors to assess impact on the community.

In this case, since flaring noise was not audible or not distinguishable above general site noise, no quantitative BS4142 assessments were undertaken.

ExxonMobil Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) has issued its February 2022 update on progress towards the installation and operation of its new Enclosed Ground Flare. This and previous updates can be found on the ExxonMobil FEP website.

14 January 2022 – 24 March 2022: 7 complaints

• Most complaints related to planned flaring events at the Complex in March which were required to allow inspection and maintenance work.
• This flaring was required to carry out planned maintenance to ensure the ongoing safe and compliant operation of the site.
• During Monday 7 March planned flaring at the ExxonMobil Chemical Limited Fife Ethylene Plant, one of our noise scientists attended locations in Lochgelly, Donibristle, Auchtertool and Hill of Beath to assess the noise being experienced in the community.
• Our monitoring work involves us carrying out an initial assessment to judge if a more detailed assessment using the British Standard (BS 4142) will then be required. BS 4142 would use data from our noise monitors to assess impact on the community.
• In this case, since flaring noise was not audible or not distinguishable above general site noise, no quantitative BS4142 assessments were undertaken. More detail is given in our investigation of environmental noise report.

10 September 2021 – 13 January 2022:  25 complaints

Most complaints related to concerns about flaring at the Mossmorran Complex.

A number of complaints expressed concerns over dark clouds or smoke that people are observing above the complex. There was no indication of smoke at these times, but it is noted normal emissions can appear dark depending on the light conditions at the time.