A tanker carrying 27,000 cubic meters of shale gas from the US arrived in Grangemouth refinery and petrochemical plant in Scotland on Tuesday. This shipment is the first of 8 ethane shipments to the plant, which is owned by Ineos, to replace dwindling North Sea supplies and ensure the plant will continue to operate.
Ineos claim the £1.6bn investment is the only way to bring in enough gas at low prices to maintain its olefins and polymers business in the face of global competition. Grangemouth is Scotland’s only crude oil refinery, which produces the majority of fuels used in Scotland.