Scotland's largest climate polluter Ineos says it is spending more than £1 billion in a bid to slash greenhouse emissions at its Grangemouth refinery.
The petrochemical multinational said its Grangemouth operation - which includes oil, chemical and power plants - currently emits around three million tonnes of CO2 per year.
Ineos said it wants all businesses at the Grangemouth site to make and use hydrogen along with using carbon capture mechanisms to store at least one million tonnes of CO2 by 2030.
It added its plans will "deliver a reduction in excess of 60% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 through a series of investments, partnerships, and innovative engineering".
Ineos says it wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Net zero cabinet secretary Michael Matheson welcomed the "significant investment, which demonstrates Ineos's support for Scotland's journey to becoming a net-zero economy by 2045.
"This will not only drive forward innovation and diversification to tackle emissions at Grangemouth, but will also support the decarbonisation of other sectors, sites and regions across Scotland", he added.
Andrew Gardner, chairman of Ineos Grangemouth, said: "Climate change is one of the most urgent environmental, economic and social issues of our time.
"We've set an ambitious plan to achieve net zero by 2045 and today we are announcing the next stage of our road map which includes an investment in excess of £1 billion."
Five Ineos sites at Grangemouth poured around 3.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in 2019, making it the largest climate polluter in the country, according to figures from the Scottish Environment and Protection Agency (Sepa).
The power company SSE ranked as second-worst, with its gas power station at Peterhead emitting around 1.6 million tonnes that year.
Kenneth Lawrie, Chief Executive of Falkirk Council said: "This is a really positive step forward by INEOS and matches our aspirations to create an Investment Zone at Grangemouth to attract low carbon industries and help us as a Council to be net zero by 2030.
"Actions underway at Grangemouth show it can be a real focal point for carbon reduction.
"This investment is just one of a range of projects which will help to tackle climate change across the globe. We will be delighted to work with INEOS and other partners in meeting this important challenge."
