Committee set up to forge ‘long-term partnership’ with oil industry

SIC chief executive David Clark has set up an oil strategy committee with a view to holding discussions with the terminal operators on the future of the council’s arrangements with the oil industry.

Mr Clark, who said he hoped any future negotiations with the industry would lead to a “win-win situation” for all concerned, announced on Tuesday that the panel would include himself, executive director of infrastructure Gordon Greenhill, head of economic development Neil Grant, head of finance Graham Johnston, captain Roger Moore of the harbour board and secretary of the Sullom Voe Association Willie Shannon.

He said: “We’re looking for a longer term partnership to take the oil industry into the next generation, really, have a look at how we can put in place the various services and infrastructure to meet the various demands of the industry, but do it in a way that is beneficial to both of us.

“It’s really to make sure we have a coordinated approach, pulling in all the different strands, rather than picking things off one at a time.”

The SIC rents the land on which the terminal sits from Shetland Charitable Trust and then leases it to the terminal operators, and the charitable trust has already approached Mr Clark, as it did his predecessor Morgan Goodlad, with a view to pursuing joint negotiations with the terminal operators, perhaps sometime later this year.