Falkland islanders to visit to learn about living with oil and gas

The Falkland islanders are coming to Shetland. Members of the British outpost’s business community are visiting the isles on a fact-finding mission to see how we have coped with oil and gas developments.

The council got a call recently from the Falklands’ Chamber of Commerce, which was eager to set up meetings with local companies, the port authority and Sumburgh Airport officials to examine how the isles operate with a massive chunk of the energy sector based right on our doorstep.

The meeting comes amid an ongoing row over plans for drilling explorations off the Falkands, prompting threats of court action from Argentina, which claims sovereignty.

It comes almost exactly 30 years after the Falklands conflict, which saw a British task force recover the islands after they were invaded by the Argentinians.

An event will be held in the Shetland Museum on 11th May, where Falkland islanders will give a presentation covering the current oil exploration and development programme. A reception will also be held at the town hall.