News / Accommodation block awaits first tenants
THERE were happy faces all round when Petrofac, who are building the £500 million Shetland Gas Plant for Total, opened its accommodation block at the Sella Ness Industrial Estate, on Friday morning.
With the first phase of the facility now complete, the accommodation block will eventually be able to house more than 800 workers, with the first workers expected to move in as early as next month.
The two storey facility is equipped with a shop, library, laundry, IT room, restaurant, gym and bar, as well as a medical facility and five-a-side football pitch. Workers will share bedrooms fitted with a bunk bed.
The temporary facility was officially opened by Petrofac group chief executive Ayman Asfari, with Total’s UK chairman Patrice de Viviès cutting the ribbon.
The Shetland Gas Plant is an essential part of the £2.5 billion project to unlock the gas fields to the West of Shetland starting with the Laggan and Tormore reservoirs. First gas is expected by summer 2014.
Mr Asfari said Petrofac had been present in the UK’s offshore oil and gas fields for many years, but the contract to build the gas plant, next to the Sullom Voe terminal, was their first major onshore development in the UK.
He said the company was committed to completing the project in an environmentally sustainable manner, both on time and without injuries to anyone.
Mr de Viviès added: “The gas plant will be built over the next three years. Up until now we have prepared the ground by taking out the peat.
“For the next few years up to 800 people will be working here. We are committed to completing the project on time and on budget.”
Shetland Islands Council convener Sandy Cluness said he felt reminded of the time when Shetland experienced its first oil boom in the early seventies.
“The fact that next to 1,000 people are being employed here is hugely important to Shetland, he said.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
