UK Government pledges £9m to support workers at Mossmorran plastics plant

The UK Government has pledged to support hundreds of workers who lost their jobs at a plastics plant in Fife with an investment of up to £9m.

Production ceased at the Mossmorran chemical works in Fife last month after owners ExxonMobil said it was losing a million pounds a week.

ExxonMobil say the site will be fully decommissioned with the process expected to be completed by early 2028.

Around 180 ExxonMobil staff, 200 contractors, and 50 other workers are affected by the closure.

ExxonMobil's Mossmorran plant in Fife. — ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran plant in Fife. Getty Images

However, the UK Government said on Monday it was stepping into support the future of the plant and the wider Fife economy.

It has announced a fund of £9m if commercial partners can be found.

Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander said: “The UK Government stands ready to invest up to £9m in Mossmorran’s future. We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for the plant’s workers and their families, which is why the UK Government is stepping in.

“We are determined to do all we can to look after the plant’s workers, ensure a successful future for the site itself, and so mitigate the impact on the wider Fife community.”

The Scottish Government said earlier this month that it will fund 350 workers to receive training and employment support at Fife College before they are made redundant.

Deputy first minister Kate Forbes said the investment of up to £1.3m will be tailored to individual skills assessments.

Forbes said: “The workers at Mossmorran have made a significant contribution to Scotland’s economy and we are determined to make sure their skills are not lost. We will not allow these workers to be left behind.

“That’s why we have acted quickly to ensure support is in place before the first redundancies in April. This builds on the skills and employment support already provided as part of our determination to ensure a prosperous and secure future for the workforce.

“The UK Government must now match our commitment to help the staff affected by the closure – they cannot stand idly by while these jobs are lost.”

Melanie Ward, the Labour MP for Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy, said: “In December, I secured a commitment from the UK Government to explore funding for alternative futures for the site at Mossmorran, and in the months since, I have had meetings at every level of Government where I’ve fought for my constituents and pressed the case for this funding.

“The closure of the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran was devastating news for its workforce and I have always argued that all sides should come together in the Taskforce and step up to help communities – this £9m is a further contribution to that.”