News / SSE plan gas pipeline to new power station
SCOTTISH & Southern Energy hopes to construct a gas pipeline from Sullom Voe to fuel Lerwick’s new power station when it opens in 2016.
One option to supply the fuel would be the new £500 million gas plant Total is building to export gas from the Laggan-Tormore fields west of Shetland.
The power company is hosting two drop in sessions later this month to discuss their plans with local communities.
Liaison manager Gavin Steel said the new power station would be built at Rova Head, outside Lerwick, to run either on natural gas or light fuel oil, but stressed no decision had been made as to which fuel would ultimately be used.
“In order to have the greatest flexibility to keep the lights on in Shetland we are going to seek consent for both options, so that we are in a position to develop what is needed once it is clear which way is the best to go,” Steel said.
“It has always been our intention that we would hold consultation and seek consent for the pipeline, but it doesn’t really imply that any decision has been taken in terms of which fuel will ultimately be chosen.”
The public exhibitions will be held in the Shetland Museum and Archives on Tuesday 27 November between 3 and 7.30pm, and in the Voe hall the following day from 2 to 6.30pm.
The proposed pipeline route will be published at the meetings as will be a scoping report which sets out the terms of an environmental impact assessment needed prior to any construction work.
Steel said the proposed pipeline would run underground and not on the seabed.
Comment forms will be available at the exhibitions and can either be completed and handed in on the day, or posted at a later date. The closing date for comments is 4 January 2013.
At this stage any comments made are to Scottish & Southern Energy. Once an application for consent is submitted representation can be made to the Scottish Government Energy Consent Unit.
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