Minister declines to comment on Viking

SCOTTISH energy minister Fergus Ewing has declined to respond to a number of open letters written by islanders in response to his decision to grant planning permission for the 370 megawatt Viking wind farm.

Shetland News offered the minister the opportunity to reply after he was addressed publicly on our letters page. (‘Don’t insult us’ and ‘A different planet’).

A spokeswoman for Mr Ewing said the minister was unable to react once a planning decision had been taken.

She referred to the decision letter, which is available here, and added that “we wouldn’t be able to go beyond that”.

Meanwhile, Shetland Charitable Trust has declined a request to publish details of Quayle Munro’s valuation of the Viking project prior to Monday’s public meeting of the trust.

The Edinburgh and London based financial advisory business has calculated that thanks to planning consent having been granted the trust’s £3.8 million investment has shot up in value to £58 million.

The consultant also believes that the value of the investment could grow in value to £157 million over the next two years as Viking Energy moves towards readiness for contractual close.