THE management team at the Fife Ethylene Plant have re-iterated the opportunity to welcome members of the Mossmorran Action Group to be involved in discussions at the gas plant, although they confirmed that they would not be attending tonight's meeting at Lochgelly Town Hall.

Jacob McAlister, plant manager at ExxonMobil’s Fife Ethylene Plant (FEP), said this afternoon: “Representatives from the FEP will not be attending this evening’s Mossmorran Action Group (MAG) meeting.

"This is due to the unavailability of senior plant managers and because we do not believe that this particular meeting will provide an opportunity for fair, constructive and informed discussion.

“We have, however, made repeated offers to MAG to join community representatives for a question and answer session on-site with our Senior Management Team in the near future (MAG has so far chosen not to accept).

"Our intent is to give stakeholders an informed and factual insight into our plant operations and foster constructive discussion that focuses on the issues that directly matter to those living in communities local to FEP.

"Such a meeting would also allow us to share our Best Available Techniques Report which outlines a multi-million pound programme of improvements that we are planning to further minimise instances and impact of unplanned flaring – underlining our commitment to taking right and responsible action".

He added: “We also remain active and committed participants in Fife Council’s formally recognised community fora, the Independent Air Quality Monitoring Group and Safety Liaison Committee, and continue to support efforts to improve the effectiveness of these organisations.

“Furthermore, we will again reach out to members of the local community with invitations to visit FEP themselves to allow us to address concerns directly and build mutual understanding and trust.”