ExxonMobil has confirmed that its Mossmorran ethylene plant in Fife will close in February next year, following unsuccessful attempts to find a buyer for the facility. The shutdown puts more than 400 jobs directly at risk.
No Viable Offer Received for Struggling Site
Appearing before the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster on Wednesday, ExxonMobil UK chairman Paul Greenwood revealed the company had held both formal and informal discussions with potential purchasers. However, none presented a viable proposition to continue operating the site as an ethylene plant, a key component in plastics manufacturing.
"We did not find anybody who is able to offer us a viable offer of taking it over," Greenwood told MPs. He stated that selling the plant would have been the preferred outcome for all parties, but the economic case for its continued operation could not be made, partly blaming UK Government policy.
Timeline for Shutdown and Demolition
The firm plans to cease operations in February 2026. Following this, a demolition period of up to two years will begin to return the land to a greenfield state. Greenwood indicated that ExxonMobil remains open to discussions with any party interested in the site for alternative uses during this period.
Of the approximately 180 ExxonMobil staff facing redundancy, around 110 will leave next spring. The remaining employees will stay on to manage the site's decommissioning. A further 250 contractor roles are also in jeopardy.
Union and Political Reaction to Closure
The announcement has sparked criticism from unions and politicians. Unite union industrial officer Bob MacGregor challenged the company's claim of economic unviability, pointing to a £120 million UK Government investment announced for an ethylene plant in Grangemouth on the same day as evidence of the sector's potential.
MacGregor called for a pause in the closure process to allow more time to find a buyer and criticised both the UK and Scottish governments for a lack of tangible support for the workforce. He acknowledged the Scottish Government's activation of its Pace (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) scheme but said he saw little else beyond "kind words and soundbites."
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander expressed his "great regret" over the closure, stating he had engaged with the plant's leadership with "an open heart and an open mind" but no proposals were forthcoming from the company. Scottish Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said her government's priority was securing a sustainable future for the site and its workers, but emphasised that the UK Government holds the key levers for industrial intervention and addressing high energy costs.
The closure of the Fife Ethylene Plant marks a significant blow to the local economy and raises urgent questions about industrial strategy and worker support in Scotland's evolving energy landscape.
