Overview
- Ministers, Fife Council, unions and local employers met on Monday in what Douglas Alexander called a constructive session to coordinate support for workers facing ExxonMobil’s February shutdown.
- Kate Forbes confirmed the Scottish Government will join the UK–Fife Council process, will visit the site on Tuesday, and is convening a summit and taskforce to consider options for the workforce and the location.
- More than 400 roles are at risk, including 179 staff posts and about 250 contractor positions, after ExxonMobil concluded the ethylene facility no longer has a competitive future.
- Alexander said there has been no serious commercial offer, noting the plant has been losing about £1 million a month and has recorded five years of losses, with the UK Government not prepared to keep it open.
- ExxonMobil has pointed to high supply and energy costs and the current policy environment as key factors in its decision, while the UK’s Office for Investment will explore any possible buyer and Babcock signalled interest in hiring some workers.