Scottish Ministers have granted consent for a gas-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plant at BP Kinneil Terminal near Bo’ness.

The Kinneil Terminal, which is adjacent to the Ineos petrochemical complex, currently processes around 40 per cent of the North Sea crude oil production which is brought to the site via the Forties Pipeline System (FPS).

Requiring steam for heat energy to drive the necessary oil separation processes, the proposed CHP plant project will meet those requirements and create up to 400 construction jobs at the same time.

The gas-fired combined heat and power unit will use dry gas already produced on site but currently surplus to existing requirements to generate all the electricity BP needs to operate the entire complex.

Energy minister Fergus Ewing said: “This combined heat and power plant falls within the Grangemouth Investment Zone that is identified in the National Planning Framework 3. It is therefore within the National Development area where Ministers will support development that is needed to maintain the key infrastructure and industry at the Grangemouth Investment Zone.

“This proposed development will provide welcome long-term security of service to developers of new oil and gas fields, at an otherwise challenging time for the wider oil and gas industry.

“There is consensus across stakeholders that we must retain critical infrastructure to ensure the long-term viability of the North Sea oil and gas industry.

“There is a long term sustainable future for the North Sea – which will be supported by investments such as these at BP Kinneil Terminal – and we are committed to using every lever at our disposal to support the industry.”

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