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Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran | Credit: Newsquest

The Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP) (Mossmorran, Scotland) is an 830,000-tonne-per-year steam cracker commissioned in 1986 that converts ethane feedstock from North Sea natural gas liquids into ethylene—a base chemical for plastics manufacturing. Operating continuously 24/7/365, the facility supplies approximately 50% of its ethylene production to UK consumers via the national ethylene pipeline network, with the remainder exported through the Braefoot Bay marine terminal on the Firth of Forth, where it is stored at -103°C and shipped primarily to Antwerp. The plant employs 179 direct staff and 250 contractors. ExxonMobil invested £140 million ($174 million) in 2019 to upgrade infrastructure and reduce flaring impacts. The facility is scheduled for permanent closure in February 2026.