Exxon commits £140m investment in Fife plant

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EXXONMOBIL will invest £140m (US$173m) in its ethylene plant in Fife, UK, over the next two years as it seeks to improve reliability and performance.

It said the investment at its 830,000 t/y plant will upgrade key infrastructure and introduce new technologies. This includes installation of a state-of-the-art flare tip to reduce noise and vibration. In April, six days of flaring at the plant prompted record levels of complaints from locals and commitments from management to provide environmental regulators with an assessment of best available technologies.

“These planned investments demonstrate our commitment to long-term reliable operations at the site,” said Jacob McAlister, Plant Manager at the Fife ethylene plant. He added that the upgrade will contribute to the economy through job creation and procurement contracts.

The investment follows its US$650m upgrade to the Fawley refinery, announced in September 2018, and the doubling of capacity at its elastomers plant in Newport in May.