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Sullom Voe Terminal faces an exciting future. New discoveries
and new technology mean that oil will flow from the North
Sea and west of Shetland provinces well into the next century.
The recent agreement between Shetland Islands Council and
the Terminal partners, coupled with changed working practices
and increased efficiency, have put the Terminal in a strong
position to retain its existing business and to bid for new
work.
It is important, however, to protect the natural environment
in which this business operates, and to ensure that robust
information is available which outlines the measures taken
and demonstrates the success achieved. The coasts and seas
around Shetland not only contain rich resources, but are areas
of outstanding beauty. They need protecting, and the public
need to have confidence that the safeguards are effective.
To this end the Sullom Voe Association, the company owned
jointly by Shetland Islands Council and the Brent and Ninian
pipeline groups, set up SOTEAG. For a period of nearly twenty
years, SOTEAG has advised, monitored and reported on the effect
Sullom Voe Terminal has had on the Shetland Environment, as
well as giving its services when particular incidents have
caused concern.
You will see from this publication that they have been able
to confirm that the environmental controls agreed by the Oil
Industry and the Council are an outstanding success. At the
same time, SOTEAG has gained an international reputation for
rigorous research and intellectual independence.
As the UK moves into the next millennium, the demand for
energy and the need to protect our environment will intensify.
Sullom Voe Terminal has the potential to be operational for
many years to come. It is critical that the local authority
and the oil industry continue the joint effort to minimise
the environmental impact of an industry continue the joint
effort to minimise the environmental impact of an industry
which is a welcome and important part of the Shetland economy.
Lewis Shand Smith
Convener
Shetland Islands Council
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