The Mossmorran Natural Gas Liquids plant in Fife seen from Edinburgh's New Town
Polluting flares from oil and gas multinationals in Scotland, ExxonMobil and Shell, have risen to a record high, according to a new analysis by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa).
The weight of waste gases burnt off by both companies at the Mossmorran petrochemical complex near Cowdenbeath in Fife reached 38,747 tonnes in 2016 – the highest in the last ten years and nearly six times higher than in 2014.
The pollution disrupts the climate, and has been blamed by local residents for causing stress and breathing difficulties. Politicians and campaigners are calling on authorities to crack down, and check whether the ageing facilities at the site are deteriorating. [The Feret Website]
