Also in the news / Sodexo contract, drilling for gas, fuel insecurity fund, new ministers and more …
SODEXO has been awarded a three-year extension to its catering and facilities management services contract at the Sullom Voe Terminal in the Shetland Islands.
Sodexo’s new three-year contract has an option to extend a further two years and is worth around £2.5 million a year.
Its 25-strong team will continue to provide catering, cleaning, warehouse and logistics, garage services and pest control for the 400-plus employees on site.
Sodexo UK and Ireland’s managing director of energy and resources Ed Morrow said: We are thrilled that our colleagues will continue to deliver services for this important contract as the Sullom Voe Terminal enters an exciting new phase.”
FRENCH oil and gas giant TotalEnergies has started drilling a gas exploration well in the Greater Laggan area to the west of Shetland.
The Benriach-1 well is targeting 638 billion cubic feet or prospective resources.
The news comes in the same week the UK Government is publishing its long-awaited revised climate strategy to meet its net zero ambitions.
In its Powering Up Britain strategy, published on Thursday, the government focuses on carbon capture and storage (CCS), floating offshore wind, green hydrogen and nuclear to reduce carbon emissions.
SCOTLAND’s new first minister has announced increased support for households with energy costs.
The Scottish Government had previously committed to doubling the Fuel Insecurity Fund from £10 million to £20 million.
But new first minister Humza Yousaf said this figure will now rise to £30 million.
The fund offers help with people struggling to pay their energy bills who are at risk of self-disconnection or self-rationing their energy use as a result.
Yousaf said: “I have said my immediate priority is to do everything we can to protect every Scot as far as possible from the harm inflicted by the cost-of-living crisis.”
HIGHLANDS and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has been appointed as minister for equalities, migration and refugees in Yousaf’s new government.
Meanwhile Kevin Stewart has taken on the transport minister role after Jenny Gilruth took on the education brief.
NATIONAL farmers union NFU Scotland has welcomed the reappointment of Mairi Gougeon as cabinet secretary for rural affairs, islands and land reform.
President Martin Kennedy said: “The cabinet secretary has regularly engaged with the industry and a very good grasp of the role our sector plays and the many complicated and technical issues around it.”
SAXAVORD Spaceport has become the latest business to become a sponsor for this summer’s Tall Ships Races in Lerwick.
With thousands of visitors expected in Lerwick between 26-29 July, representatives from the space centre will be hosting a stall at Holmsgarth each day as part of a “tech tent”.
Saxavord Spaceport community projects officer Bryden Priest said there would be information and display boards describing “the story so far” and the chance for folk to hear more about the company’s ambitious and exciting future plans.
“The Tall Ships is a really important event for Shetland, and from our perspective it’s great to see the opportunities it’s giving young folk in the islands to do sail training and to go and get those experiences,” he said.
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