The Goal

TOTAL and its partners are committed to conducting their business with care and respect for the environment and the principles of sustainable development. The Laggan-Tormore Project will see construction in environmentally sensitive areas, both offshore and onshore.

The Project Team, including a dedicated team of environmentalists, are working closely with the Shetland Islands Council and other statutory and voluntary organisations to identify and alleviate any concerns.

Shetland is made up of over 100 small islands, of which approximately 15 are inhabited. It retains a strong sense of community and the management team of the project feels strongly that we should become part of that community and be accountable to them.

The construction of a new gas plant in Shetland will have a huge impact on the community within the islands. Whilst the potential positive impacts are easy to recognise, the islanders understandably had many reservations and questions in the early days of planning.

As part of our desire to be seen as ‘good neighbours’ and also in order to alleviate any concerns, the Laggan-Tormore team  has visited Shetland on  a regular basis, talking to the community, the local authority and other interested stakeholders.

Senior Management and project teams from TEPUK continue to place strong emphasis on that dialogue and make regular visits to the Shetland Islands, consulting with and getting to know the local community.

Fewer formal meetings are now required and the local community prefer to use an informal approach to talk to us and raise any areas of concern, which we listen to and act upon accordingly.

We also make regular visits to those who live closest to the site of the gas plant, taking account of their views and in many cases changing designs to accommodate their wishes.

For example the local community were involved in plans to install a temporary accommodation facility and were consulted on both its location and design.

We have also met regularly with Shetland Islands Council, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage amongst others to ensure we act in the best interests of the Shetland Islands.

Regular communication takes place through our website and regular newsletter 'Frontier News' which is designed specifically for the islands.