INEOS Grangemouth is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its first Dragon Ship arrival, marking a decade since the milestone event on September 28, 2016. This foundational event established a reliable transatlantic supply of US shale gas ethane, transforming the Scotland facility from a loss-making plant into a highly profitable petrochemical manufacturing hub. 

Over the last ten years, the site has processed more than 400 ethane shipments transported by its dedicated fleet of INEOS Dragon class vessels. Collectively, these shipments have supplied enough liquid ethane to fill more than 175 ethane storage tanks, or the equivalent of filling an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 23 hours for ten years. The imported ethane has played a critical role in supporting operations at Grangemouth and the production of ethylene, a key building block used in thousands of essential everyday products. 

The ethane supply project was developed to address the growing gap between declining North Sea gas supplies and the feedstock requirements of the Grangemouth petrochemicals business. Supported by a $2 billion investment from INEOS, the project established a virtual pipeline linking US shale gas fields with Europe via a fleet of specially designed ethane carriers, known as the Dragon Ships. 

The project required significant investment and innovation, including the construction of specialised gas carriers, the development of new maritime classifications for the vessels, and the construction of what was then Europe's largest ethane storage tank, alongside extensive new infrastructure at Grangemouth. 

At the time of the first delivery, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, described the milestone as a hugely important day for both INEOS and UK manufacturing, recognising the potential of shale gas to strengthen the competitiveness of British industry. A decade later, the benefits of that vision continue to be realised. 

Nick Williamson, CEO, INEOS O&P UK, said: "This is a truly remarkable anniversary to celebrate. Only INEOS would have had the vision to pursue such a unique project, recognising the opportunity and overcoming the significant technical and engineering challenges of transporting shale gas ethane across the Atlantic to Europe. 

“Ten years on, the success of this investment continues to be felt right across the site. With the recently commissioned tenth furnace on the ethylene plant, we have further strengthened our manufacturing capability, ensuring we remain well positioned to meet the UK’s strategic need for ethylene. Not only does ethane provide a feedstock for ethylene production, but it also enables us to reduce our reliance on natural gas, helping to mitigate the impact of the UK's exceptionally high energy costs. 

“As we celebrate this important milestone, we also look forward to the opportunities the next decade will bring for our business and the Grangemouth site, building on the success of projects such as this." 

The Dragon Ship fleet remains a defining example of INEOS' willingness to invest, innovate and take bold decisions to secure the future of its manufacturing operations. Ten years on from that first historic arrival, the project continues to underpin the resilience and competitiveness of Grangemouth and demonstrates how long-term investment can deliver lasting benefits for UK industry.