Plans for a huge £500million gas “sweetening” plant as part of energy giant BP’s renewal of the Sullom Voe Oil terminal in Shetland have been approved by councillors.
Construction could begin by the end of this year and it is expected the development will take the number of construction workers on the site to around 500 until the end of this decade.
The latest boost to employment in Shetland was welcomed by local councillors.
The gas sweetening plant itself will swallow up two hectares of the terminal adjacent to the existing oil terminal.
It will be used to process and remove hydrogen sulphide from “sour” gas transported from west of Shetland fields by incineration.
The sweetened gas will then be transported from an east of Shetland pipeline to the Magnus field for use during “enhanced oil recovery” or in the domestic gas market.
The planning committee unanimously backed the plans.
Officials told a meeting of the planning committee that there were no outstanding objections to the development as it sits within an already heavily industrialised landscape, meaning it will have “minimal” visual impact.
Councillor for the area Andrea Manson said the project would help to give the terminal long term viability.
“I’m absolutely delighted that they’ve got planning permission. It’s another step towards making sure Sullom Voe is there long after my retirement age,” she said.
Permission has also been granted for the temporary accommodation block at Sella Ness, put in place to house construction workers for Total’s gas plant project, to remain on site for a further five years.
The planning committee heard that even after construction of the gas plant has been completed there would continue to be demand for workers’ accommodation for several years.
Applicant Malthus UK Ltd said it envisaged the Sella Ness block being used to address a shortfall in temporary housing for the workforce expected to be employed on future developments in oil, gas, energy and other industrial sectors in the islands.
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