Mark Ruskell welcomes Just Transition plan for Mossmorran

Following a long campaign by MSP Mark Ruskell, cabinet secretary Màiri McAllan has last week confirmed that the Scottish Government will co-produce a Just Transition Plan for the site.

Last year he told the Times that climate proofing the Fife Ethylene Plant, run by ExxonMobil, and the Shell-operated Fife NGL Plant would help save the planet and hundreds of jobs.

Mr Ruskell, Scottish Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “We have always been clear, the Scottish Government must make brave and bold decisions to protect our planet and today’s announcement that they will co-produce a Just Transition Plan for the two petrochemical plants at Mossmorran is exactly that.

Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Mark Ruskell. (Image: Newsquest)

“Our report – A Meaningful Just Transition Plan for Mossmorran – underlined how an unmanaged decline at Mossmorran could be devastating for workers.

"This is a community still scarred by the betrayal of mining workers in the late 20th century.

“We know a greener, cleaner, fairer future for Mossmorran is possible. But we need everyone around the table – workers, unions, local community, environmental charities, and site operators – to make this a reality.

“This is exactly what a site-specific Just Transition Plan for Mossmorran could achieve. And this is exactly the kind of transformative approach we need to accelerate climate action and keep us on track to meet net zero by 2045.”

In December 2022, Mr Ruskell commissioned ground-breaking research into the plant which outlined five possible decarbonisation routes for the site.

And in October last year, he hosted the first ever just transition summit for Mossmorran in Lochgelly – bringing together unions, workers and environmental experts to start plotting out the key features of what to do with Scotland’s third largest carbon emitter.

Mr Ruskell explained that “decades of inaction on climate” means government and communities will have to strive even harder to make progress in reducing emissions.

The announcement in the Scottish Parliament came in the wake of a decision last week to abandon the government's 2030 target of reducing emissions by 75 per cent.

Cowdenbeath MSP Annabelle Ewing said: “The Mossmorran petrochemical complex is a really important source of employment to my constituency, so I am very pleased indeed that, as we continue to work towards a reduction in emissions and tackling climate change, there will be a Just Transition plan put in place.

“This is something I have long campaigned for.  The Just Transition programme will be a key aspect of helping industry take the necessary steps for decarbonising the Scottish economy and in planning for Scotland’s transition to a net-zero emissions economy.

"The skills to be found at the Mossmorran complex can play an important part in this process.

“This an important development which reflects the need to do what is necessary to secure a reduction in Scotland’s carbon emissions while at the same time ensuring that no workers or communities are left behind.”