ExxonMobil has announced plans to spend £140 million over the next two years in an additional investment program at its Fife ethylene plant, which has a capacity of more than 800,000 t/y.

The money will be used to upgrade key infrastructure and introduce new technologies to significantly improve operational reliability and performance, ExxonMobil said. Part of the investment will go toward technologies that reduce the impact of flaring, including equipment that will reduce noise and vibration.

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

The program adds to other recent investments that ExxonMobil is making in its UK production assets. In April, the company said it planned to proceed with an expansion at its Fawley refinery and petrochemical plant near Southampton.

This project, which will cost more than £800 million, will see the addition of a hydrotreater to remove sulfur from diesel, along with a hydrogen plant.  Construction is scheduled to start late this year with start-up anticipated in 2021.

A $75 million project to double capacity of advanced elastomers in Newport, Wales, was also completed in May.