ExxonMobil plans upgrades at UK ethylene plant

ExxonMobil Corp. is launching a £140-million additional investment program over the next 2 years at its 800,000-tonne/year ethylene plant in Fife, Scotland, to upgrade key infrastructure and introduce technologies that will improve operational reliability and performance.

A portion of the investment will go toward technologies that reduce the impact of flaring, including a state-of-the-art flare tip, which will reduce noise and vibration, ExxonMobil said, without discussing additional details of the proposed project.

The upgrades are scheduled to be completed by yearend 2022.

“These planned investments demonstrate our commitment to long-term reliable operations at the site,” said Jacob McAlister, plant manager at the Fife ethylene plant.

“While already one of the most modern plants of its kind in Europe, we are always looking for ways to improve reliability and efficiency through continued maintenance and investment in new technologies. Fife has a long-term future as a competitive asset, contributing to both the local and national economies,” McAlister said.

Announcement of this latest investment by ExxonMobil’s UK operations follows the company’s April confirmation that it reached a final investment decision to proceed with an £800-million expansion to increase production of ultralow-sulfur diesel by nearly 45% at subsidiary Esso Petroleum Co.’s 270,000-b/d Fawley refining and petrochemical complex near Southampton, UK (OGJ Online, Apr. 24, 2019; Sept. 20, 2018).

ExxonMobil also confirmed in May that it completed a £75-million project to double capacity of the advanced elastomers production plant in Newport, Wales.

Contact Robert Brelsford at [email protected].