Decommissioning companies want to ‘make a difference’

LOCAL charities as well as voluntary and community groups are being invited to apply for up to £1,000 in funding from the companies behind the decommissioning of the Buchan Alpha oil platform.

A total of £10,000 is being set aside by Veolia and Peterson as part of its Make a Difference community grant.

Each organisation can receive up to £1,000 and the scheme is designed to help with areas like promotion, marketing and awareness raising, as well as practical equipment and running costs.

Peterson decommissioning manager James Johnson said: “We are committed to making a positive impact in the local communities in which we operate and have actively supported various community projects for many years.

“We are delighted to be working with Veolia to create a formal scheme to provide funding for a variety of projects.”

The Buchan Alpha oil production vessel was brought into Dales Voe in Lerwick earlier this year ahead of being dismantled.

The 12,000 tonne structure produced 150 million barrels of oil over its 36 year lifespan before it ceased production on May and it is believed to be the first major North Sea floating production facility to be decommissioned in Scotland.