Petrochemical giant Ineos’s Grangmouth site was at the centre of a suspected gas leak yesterday.
Emergency services were called to a processing terminal connected to the iconic Forties North Sea pipeline, near Falkirk shortly after midday.
Police and firefighters could be seen cordoning off roadways and heading into the industrial yard.
Some staff members are understood to have been evacuated from the premises.
Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos operates a crude oil refinery and a petrochemicals plant at the site.
The firm recently agreed a deal for the Forties North Sea pipeline from BP for £200million.
The 235-mile Forties system links 85 North Sea oil and gas assets to the UK mainland and the Ineos site in Grangemouth.
In a statement, an Ineos spokeswoman said: “At 12:00 noon we detected a leak on a pipeline inside our KG (Kinneil Gas) manufacturing plant at INEOS Grangemouth.
“Emergency services are in attendance and we requested that Police Scotland close the Wholeflats Road as a precautionary measure
“The incident management team have been mobilised to manage the situation.
“Purely as a precaution and to allow our response team to manage the situation, we have closed a number of access gates and are allowing only essential personnel to enter the South side of the site.
“All non-essential INEOS personnel who would normally be working in this area have been requested to report to their line manager.”
A spokesman for oil major BP added: “BP can confirm it has been made aware of an incident at the Ineos KG plant at Grangemouth and we are monitoring the situation closely.
“We have offered Ineos our support if required.”
Police later said contrary to initial reports, officers did not ask members of the public to stay indoors as emergency services dealt with the incident.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service sent eight vehicles to the scene to support the energy giant’s on-site fire engines.
A spokesman for the fire service said: “At 12.12pm on Tuesday May 2, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to reports of a gas leak at the Grangemouth petrochemical site.
“Eight appliances are currently in attendance.”
Officials from Falkirk Council held an emergency planning meeting with the emergency services.
Police later confirmed the incident has been contained at the site and advised members of the public to “go about their normal business”.
In a statement, the force said: “Emergency services have responded to a major incident following a gas leak at the Ineos site at Grangemouth.
“The incident was initially reported at 12.15pm on Tuesday May 2 and a multi-agency response was initiated.
“Superintendent Brian Auld can confirm that the incident has been contained on site and expert personnel are in attendance.”
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