Energy minister Rudd officially opens Shetland Gas Plant
Jim Tait
The Shetland Gas Plant at Sullom Voe is being officially opened today, over three months after production began from the Laggan-Tormore fields.
Among the special guests at the inauguration ceremony are UK energy and climate change minister Amber Rudd and Total chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanné.
The Laggan-Tormore fields began production on 7th February and production has since ramped up to the full production capacity of 90,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Ms Rudd said the vote of confidence in the offshore oil and gas industry was great news for Shetland and the UK as a whole, creating jobs and providing secure, affordable energy to the UK’s families and businesses for decades to come.
She said: “North Sea oil and gas is crucial to our energy mix and this government is clear that the broad shoulders of the UK are firmly behind this vital industry and the thousands of workers and families it supports.
“We are 100 per cent committed to helping our oil and gas industry attract investment, unlock new potential and remain competitive for the future.”
Mr Pouyanné said: “The Laggan-Tormore development demonstrates Total’s continued commitment to the United Kingdom.
“By opening up its third production hub in the frontier deep offshore waters of the West of Shetland, Total is also improving the United Kingdom’s long-term energy security.
“This subsea-to-shore development is the first of its kind in the country and will provide the domestic market with eight per cent of its daily gas requirements while enabling the potential for further developments in the west of Shetland area.”
The Laggan-Tormore fields are located west of Shetland in 600 metres of water. The development consists of a 140-kilometre tie-back of four subsea wells to the new onshore Shetland Gas Plant which has a capacity of 500 million standard cubic feet per day. Following treatment at the gas plant, the processed gas is exported to the mainland.
Total operates Laggan-Tormore, Edradour and Glenlivet with a 60 per cent interest alongside partners Dong E&P (UK) Ltd (20 per cent) and SSE E&P UK Ltd (20 per cent).
John Tulloch
I hope Ms Rudd doesn’t ask how it can possibly be that, of these colossal volumes of gas flowing through Sullom Gas Plant, not a single molecule finds its way towards reducing the shocking levels of fuel poverty in Shetland, currently running at over forty percent!
That would be terribly embarrassing, would it not?
She might discover that the elephant blocking the path is Viking Energy.
Ray Purchase
I had would hope that she would be asking this John given that she’s a minister in the department of energy. Although really I would hope that she knows all about it seeing as it’s her job. Have Wir Shetland contacted her?
John Tulloch
You’ll have to ask WIr Shetland that, Ray. I’m still a member of WS however I’ve stepped down from the committee so I’m unable to comment on any such contacts which may or may not have taken place.
Since you mention it, I hope SNP Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has also asked the same question?
Ray Purchase
Fair enough John – I understand you not wanting to tread on the toes of the current committee members of Wir Shetland. I just thought that as a member and until very recently the chairman you would know whether Wir Shetland had contacted the government on this issue – it is very important.
As for your point on Fergus Ewing, that is again fair. I very much hope that he is informed on it too. It is much more important for Amber Rudd to know about it though as, I’m sure you know, energy is not a devolved issue so Fergus Ewing has absolutely no power to do anything to change this. The right departments should be asked about the relevant issues don’t you think?
iantinkler
Extraordinary is in not, The Green Lunatics and the SNP, block fracking and nuclear as being a dangerous polluting practice yet endorse and encourage the extraction of oil and gas from the North Sea. Far more potentially damaging to the environment, alongside environmental destruction of wind farms without end. What a bunch of hypocritical fools all the scientific sense of the infamous Nationalist haggis.
ROBERT SIM
In what sense is the haggis “infamous”? It is a fine dish and inspired a great poem.
iantinkler
Nothing wrong with haggis. if you like offal stuffed in a pig’s bladder. Far preferable to Nationalism in my book.
Ray Purchase
Amber Rudd is a conservative minister in the UK government. Thought I’d point this out Ian as you seem to be a bit confused. She is not an SNP minister. The SNP, the Greens, fracking, nuclear power or windmills are not mentioned in this article. Happy to help.
iantinkler
Ray Purchase, Never said Rudd was an SNP minister, please do not put words in my mouth and play with the truth. Amber Rudd, unlike the SNP politbureau you so laudate, takes scientific advice when necessary. Have you heard about Nippy and here science adviser; “Nicola Sturgeon has ‘taken flight from reason’ over fracking with ‘anti-science’ statements, expert claims Professor Paul Younger, her appointed science adviser. I think perhaps a haggis has more brain and scientfic understanding than Sturgeon, even if it is a bit minced . http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/14483569.Sturgeon_has__taken_flight_from_reason__over_fracking_with__anti_science__statements__expert_claims/
Ray Purchase
Wasn’t putting words in your mouth Ian – just thought I’d point out what the article was about as your comment had absolutely nothing to do with anything contained within it. Neither does your follow up comment.
John N Hunter
I was at one of the consultations regarding the new Lerwick power station. One of the proposals is to use gas from Sullom Voe. Their maps showed the gas pipeline running right through the area in the Lang Kaimes earmarked for Viking Energy’s windmills. The SSE official I spoke to agreed that if the pipeline was laid it would effectively stop Viking building windmills in that area.
Ian Tinkler
Why not a power station at Sullom Voe, simples!!
David Spence
I may be wrong, but the idea of using the waste gas, which would have burnt off at the flare stack, to power the Lerwick Power Station via a pipeline, was proposed long before the Sullom Voe Terminal was built. Alas though, the Hydro-Electric’s rather weak get out clause, I believe, was ‘ Can you provide gas 100% ? ‘ and BP said ‘ No. ‘. This was the excuse the Hydro-Electric used to stop Shetlander’s, potentially, getting cheaper electricity?
Now, 40 years or more later, SSE are contemplating using the idea proposed then. I somehow doubt our electricity bills will become cheaper………….in fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if SSE increased our bills, using the excuse of Shetland customers having to pay for the pipeline from Sullom to Lerwick. (SSE getting their gas for next to nothing, but charging the Shetlander’s through the nose).
I am pretty sure SSE and Viking would find a solution to the Lang Kaimes………afterall, SSE IS one of the investors in the (all expensive) Viking Energy Project????
iantinkler
“I may be wrong, but the idea of using the waste gas, which would have burnt off at the flare stack, to power the Lerwick Power Station via a pipeline, was proposed long before the Sullom Voe Terminal was built.” Yes David, you are very wrong. Before the Sullom Voe Terminal was built, there was no waste gas!!