Kate Forbes to hold summit as Mossmorran chemical plant closure risks hundreds of jobs
Kate Forbes is convening a summit to address the closure of the Mossmorran chemical plant in Fife, which threatens 179 staff and 250 contractor jobs. ExxonMobil is closing the plant due to economic, policy, and market challenges blamed partly on UK government policies. The summit will gather unions, government bodies, and the company to explore support for workers and future site opportunities.
The Mossmorran chemical plant, one of Scotland's largest industrial sites producing base materials for plastics, is scheduled to close in February, putting 179 staff and 250 contractors at risk. ExxonMobil, the American owners, cited economic and policy conditions in the UK—including high supply costs, poor market conditions, and regulatory burdens such as windfall and emissions taxes—as reasons for the shutdown. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will visit the site and host a summit on November 25 with Scottish Enterprise and stakeholders, including unions GMB and Unite, Fife Council, and the Scottish National Investment Bank, aiming to devise strategies to retain employment and secure the site's future. ExxonMobil has stated the plant has been loss-making for five years, attributing the closure partly to UK government policies on oil and gas licensing. Political leaders, including Keir Starmer and industry representatives, recognize the plant’s unviability without government support. Unions demand urgent and decisive action from both the Scottish and UK governments to protect jobs and the industrial skills base. Overall, the summit intends to coordinate efforts to mitigate the impact on workers and explore new investment opportunities amid the closure announcement.
