STEPS have been taken to reduce the amount of ethane Shell is being forced to flare while the Mossmorran plant in Fife is closed.
Shell has been left with a surplus of ethane since its customer ExxonMobil temporarily closed the plant in August.
Now Shell bosses said they had switched from powering furnaces with propane to using ethane and reduced the amount of North Sea gas it receives.
Residents said they had not noticed much change in flaring.
But Shell bosses said they had managed to reduce flaring of ethane “significantly” as a result of the new measures, which also include adding ethane into household’s supply of methane.
A Shell spokesman said it was “very unusual” for them to have to take such measures.
ExxonMobil’s plant at the site will be closed until mid-December.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here