Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and the Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander have clashed over efforts to support workers who expect to lose their jobs at the Fife Ethylene Plant at Mossmorran.

Ms Forbes will host a summit on Tuesday following the announcement of a taskforce with Scottish Enterprise. Mr Alexander will engage in talks today.

Hundreds of staff have been told that their jobs are at risk as the petrochemical company ExxonMobil prepares to close part of the site in February.

The DFM has already called for the UK Government to take urgent action as ExxonMobil has blamed current economic and policy environment for failing to create a competitive future for its site.

Ms Forbes says the summit will be an opportunity “to explore how to ensure everything possible is being done to support workers and secure a future for the site”.

The GMB and Unite, site owners ExxonMobil, Scottish Enterprise, the UK Government, Fife Council, Fife College, the Scottish National Investment Bank and local MSPs are invited to the summit.

Mr Alexander has written to Ms Forbes saying he was “disappointed” she was forming a “solely Scottish Government-led taskforce”.

He added: “There is, of course, an established precedent for the UK and Scottish governments working together in similar circumstances, given the jointly led Grangemouth taskforce that was established previously.”

His officials are expected to attend Tuesday’s summit while Mr Alexander is expected to join a meeting on Monday at the invitation of Fife Council.

However, the UK government has already stated that it will not bail out the plant, and there will be doubts over how effective a summit will be in changing the view of ministers or the company. The plant is losing £1m a week and UK Business Minister Chris McDonald told MPs on Tuesday that there was no realistic business plan to support investment.

The Scottish Greens have also accused the SNP government of failing to implement a plan to save the plant. At First Minister’s Questions last week, Greens co-leader Ross Greer said: “We all knew this was coming. For years the Scottish Greens called for the Government to develop a just transition plan for Mossmorran.

“And in April of 2024 the Scottish Government agreed, promising that work would commence within months. That was 18 months ago.

“So, on behalf of workers and their families who thought the Scottish Government had their back, can I ask the First Minister, where is that transition plan?

“I think it’s quite clear… that there is no plan and the Scottish Government broke its promise to the workers at Mossmorran.”

In her statement today Ms Forbes said: “Our immediate priority is to explore way to retain employment at the site and support the workforce through this period of uncertainty. 

“I look forward to visiting the site and engaging with workforce representatives and the company. The chief executive of Scottish Enterprise will join me, so that we can move at pace to explore new investment opportunities.

“Last week, I informed the Scottish Parliament that I would convene a task force to consider new opportunities for the Mossmorran site and to prioritise the workforce. Since then I have engaged extensively with the Unions and Scottish Enterprise. I will announce further information about the taskforce imminently. 

“The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are committed to doing all we can to support the people impacted by this and to ensure we do not lose the vital skills base of the Mossmorran workforce in Fife.”

Robert Deavy, GMB Scotland senior organiser, said: “Every possible option to protect the future of this plant must be on the table on Tuesday and  pursued with absolute urgency. 

“Everyone involved in these discussions must share our commitment and determination to protect these workers’ jobs and safeguard their communities in every way possible. 

“Scotland cannot afford to lose the jobs, skills and industrial capability of Mossmorran and these talks must recognise that and then quickly deliver effective action.”

Cliff Bowen of Unite, said: “Unite the Union welcomes this important intervention by the Deputy First Minister to convene a summit to tackle the issues arising as a result of ExxonMobil’s decision to close the Fife Ethylene Plant.

“Both Governments now must take decisive action to support the workforce that mitigate, and hopefully prevent, the consequences of this decision. Unite members need the support of all parties to secure their future.”

Grangemouth funding