FIRST Minister Alex Salmond yesterday threw his weight behind a major investment by an energy company into Aberdeen University’s landmark new library.
North Sea oil and gas operator Talisman Energy has pledged £125,000 to the library’s purse with the intention it be used to fund dedicated education resources for young people.
The first minister and Talisman’s UK vice-president, Nick Walker, were joined at the university’s King’s College campus by pupils from Aberdeen’s Ferryhill Primary School.
Mr Salmond took the opportunity to commend Talisman for its forward thinking while also commenting on the “long future” facing the North Sea energy sector.
“My hope now is that other companies will follow Talisman’s lead and seize the opportunity to make certain their social responsibility is not neglected,” said Mr Salmond.
“We’ve learned over the last week we’ve got 30 to 40 years’ minimum of oil and gas in the waters around Scotland.
“We know the value of that resource is going to be much greater than what’s been exploited over the last 30 years. This indicates a long future, therefore the companies involved in that sector are going to be with us for many years to come.”
At a cost of £57million, the library is the flagship project of the second phase of the university’s Sixth Century Campaign and the largest piece of capital fundraising undertaken to date by the university.