SCOTLAND’S environmental regulator is to carry out a formal regulatory investigation into the ongoing flaring at a Scottish chemical plant.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) announced the probe yesterday as flaring at ExxonMobil Chemical’s Mossmorran Fife Ethylene Plant entered a fifth day and after the environment watchdog received an “unprecedented number of complaints”.

It comes as Green MSP Mark Ruskell called for the Scottish Government to take action.

“The fact that over 600 complaints have been received to date by Sepa’s 24 hour Pollution Hotline about Mossmorran flaring – one of the highest number for any single event – shows the depth of feeling there is on this issue,” said Ruskell.

“It’s not good enough for Sepa to just respond with a new investigation. There have been multiple investigations and ExxonMobil has already been given a final warning. In my book, when a final warning is breached, fines or other sanctions should follow. The Government must now take firm action against those responsible.

Chemical flaring happens when gas which cannot be processed properly is burned to relieve pressure, without the need for dumping dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere.

ExxonMobil Chemical said the incidents were “very rare” and that there was no cause for concern.

The move follows “final warning letters” issued to ExxonMobil Chemical around this time last year, which related to “preventable and unacceptable” flaring, as well as Sepa and Health and Safety Executive investigations in 2018 and a tightening of permit conditions.

“The unprecedented number of complaints we have received is a clear message and it’s one that we have heard powerfully and clearly,” said Sepa CEO Terry A’Hearn.

“The Mossmorran complex is a major industrial facility, where this type of flaring is a legitimate safety mechanism, but it’s been happening too often, and the current level and extent of the flaring from ExxonMobil Chemical Limited is unacceptable.”