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Defence Contractor Proposes Weapons-Components Facility on Former Mossmorran Site
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Proposal to Repurpose the Mossmorran Site
Defence contractor TBG International Limited has lodged a pre-application screening request with Fife Council to convert the former Fife Ethylene Plant near Cowdenbeath into an “energetics manufacturing facility.” The term “energetics” refers to explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics that are essential components of weapons systems.
History of the Fife Ethylene Plant
The plant, originally operated by ExxonMobil, ceased production in February after four decades of operation. The shutdown affected more than 400 employees. ExxonMobil has indicated that full decommissioning and site safety measures are expected to continue until 2028.
Details of the Defence Firm’s Plan
TBG International’s proposal outlines the construction of new process buildings, earth-covered storage magazines, ancillary structures, access roads, parking, landscaping, drainage and related infrastructure. Existing offices and warehouses on the site would be altered and reused for the new operation. The plan envisions an integrated chemical installation capable of industrial-scale production of explosives and related substances.
Regulatory and Environmental Review
A letter from Fife Council to the Hampshire-based firm states that the development qualifies as Schedule 1 under paragraph 6(f) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations. Consequently, the council requires a full environmental impact assessment before any construction can proceed. The designation reflects the project's scale and the chemical conversion processes involved.
Potential Implications
If approved, the conversion would shift the former petrochemical site toward defence manufacturing, potentially creating new jobs while raising environmental and safety considerations associated with explosives production. The long-term decommissioning timeline set by ExxonMobil suggests that the site will remain under controlled conditions for several more years, during which the council’s assessment will determine the feasibility of the proposed weapons-components facility.
