Viking partner unphased

SSE VIKING Limited has said they are relaxed about delays their partner in the Viking Energy wind farm, Shetland Charitable Trust, is experiencing raising an additional £6.3 million for the project.

Earlier this week, Viking Energy chairman councillor Bill Manson had warned that the charitable trust might be seen as an “unreliable partner”, after some trustees withdrew from a recent meeting leaving too few to make an investment decision.

In a statement on Thursday, a Scottish and Southern Energy spokesman said delays were not unexpected and that the company remained fully committed to the wind farm.

He said: “The Shetland Charitable Trust’s decision to invest in the Viking Energy wind farm is a matter for them and it would not be appropriate for SSE to comment on this process.

“We are not concerned by the discussions that are taking place and it is only to be expected when dealing with an investment decision of this scale.

“Throughout the development process we have always said that our preference would be to partner with the Shetland community, but that if they chose not to be involved, we would continue with plans to develop the wind farm.”