BP denies causing oil from Sullom Voe to leak out and pollute beach
A trial will take place next year after oil giant BP denied causing oil to flow out of the Sullom Voe terminal and contaminate the surrounding area.
BP Exploration Company, of Chertsy Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, pled not guilty to the complaint at Lerwick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.
The charge alleges the organisation allowed a mixture of water and crude oil to escape from a twin inverted syphon forming part of the terminal’s oily water drainage system on 7th October last year, as a result of which oily waters seeped out into the voe polluting the beach.
The court heard much of the evidence had been agreed and the trial – which will take place on 25th February – should not take longer than one day to reach its conclusion.
An intermediate diet will also be held on 13th January.
• Meanwhile, a case against construction company MK Leslie was continued without plea for four weeks.
The firm is accused of using a forklift to move a single-skinned oil storage tank at the former bus station in Lower Scord, causing it to rupture and spill oil onto the ground resulting in pollution at East Voe.
The company is charged with carrying out the offence on 16th October.
