FOLLOWING a weekend of intensified flaring, and an outpouring of thick black smoke, the Kelty based Scottish Labour Deputy Leader, Alex Rowley, has made calls for an independent review into the workings, processes and current condition of Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran.

The plant, which is owned by ExxonMobil Chemical Limited, has been in operation since 1985, and those that live in the vicinity have become accustomed to a degree of flaring over the years.

The owners have explained that the flaring is a necessary part of the plant’s safety system, which is used either when maintenance is required on site, or where there is an issue and the product coming down the pipe has to be burned off for safety reasons.

However, there have been increased concerns as to the number of flaring situations taking place, and on Sunday the unexpected huge plume of thick black smoke gave many residents in the nearby areas of Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Lumphinnans, Auchtertool and Cardenden worries.

Mr Rowley, an MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife, has written to the Scottish Government raising the concerns of local people, and also asking for an independent review to take place at the site.

He said: “We have seen the number of flaring incidents increase over the years, however, I have never seen the likes of the incident we saw on Sunday, where accompanying the aggressive flame from the top of the plant we saw a thick acrid cloud of black smoke.

“People are understandably concerned by these incidents, and do not particularly feel reassured in the safety of the plant.

“Given that these incidents have increased in recent years, and the fact that they are accompanied by an incredibly loud noise which can be heard for miles, and now alongside this outpouring of thick black smoke across Fife; I am asking the Government Minister to deliver an independent review into the site.

“There is increasing concern and worry in the communities surrounding this plant at the seeming increases in the need for flaring, in noise levels from the site and in what is being released into the air that we breathe.”

Exxon/Mobil apologised at the weekend for the smoke and put it down to a failure to get enough steam into the flare stack to lessen the levels of the black stuff.