A 50-year-old man has been charged with alleged firearms licensing offences after a gun was used to relight the gas flare on a North Sea platform.
The incident on Total’s Elgin platform took place on Boxing Day.
A modified shotgun was used due to a glitch with the flare’s automated ignition system.
Concerns were raised about whether the person who fired the gun had a firearms license.
A spokesperson for Total said: “The company will continue to give all information and support to this investigation into firearms licenses for flare ignition guns that are used as a backup system for flare ignition and in offshore operations.”
At the time of the incident Total insisted using a modified gun is standard procedure in the event of the flare’s automated ignition system failing to work.
The incident took place at a time when North Sea companies were restarting production from fields affected by the closure of the Forties Pipeline System.
Police say their investigation is continuing and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.
Recommended for you
