REPAIRS to the boilers at the Fife Ethylene Plant will be ongoing after the flow of gas to the Mossmorran operation was curtailed.

Plant boss Jacob McAlister said yesterday: "We have now started the process of safely shutting down our operation to execute maintenance on our boilers.

"We have made the necessary arrangements to reduce the flow of gas coming from the North Sea, allowing us to begin the key step of taking our furnaces out of operation.

"These steps have allowed us to start the gradual reduction of the flare. We will keep the public further updated as our team move this process forward, as well as timescales to fully stop the flaring."

The flaring has been intense since the boiler problem struck late on Monday night.

Meanwhile Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing has been involved in discussions with SEPA about the recent developments at the plant.

Ms Ewing was in discussions this on Wednesday with various SEPA officials, including the acting Chief Executive Officer, regarding the recent unplanned flaring from the ExxonMobil.

Ms Ewing said: “During a lengthy telephone conversation with a range of SEPA officials, I took the opportunity to express, on behalf of my constituents, their extreme frustration with the situation as we see yet another unplanned flaring incident coming from the Exxon Mobil plant at the Mossmoran Petrochemical complex.

“I was told that SEPA hoped to be able to issue update later today regarding how long this flaring was anticipated to last.

“In response to my urging SEPA to launch a formal investigation into this incident, I was told that they were currently gathering information. They confirmed that SEPA is testing air quality and noise in a number of locations and that the results will be put on their website hub, including information as to where the testing was carried out.

“Once more, I stressed to them that not all of my constituents had access to a computer and that they needed to be factoring that in when they – and indeed Exxon – were considering the way in which they communicate with the local community.

“We also discussed the ongoing Best Available Techniques process, and it was clarified that SEPA expect to give their views to the operators on their proposals in the coming weeks, but were unable to specify what the timescales might be for both Exxon and Shell to comply by with any licence variations.

“I want to ensure that disruption to my constituents is properly addressed and I urged SEPA, once again, to use the powers of enforcement it has at its disposal.”