Provider of PRINCE2 training, ILX, has commented on the new energy infrastructure projects unveiled in Scotland.
It follows a report by the Scottish Government that revealed investments totalling more than £20m would establish Lerwick in Shetland as a centre of excellence for oil and gas industry decommissioning.
It was also announced that planning consent for a new power station to improve electricity supplies in Shetland has been approved.
At the Port of Ardesier, bosses have outlined their plans to turn the former oil fabrication yard on the Moray Firth into a manufacturing ‘super-hub’ for offshore wind. Finance Secretary, John Swinney, said Lerwick Port Authority (LPA) was spending £11.5m on quayside expansion at Dales Voe South to support the development of oil and gas decommissioning.
The project is due to support in the region of 120 permanent jobs, with around 70 ‘high value’ jobs being created by energy logistics company, Peterson. The company is forecasted to spend up to £8.6m on the Deep Water Shetland (DWS) project to expand its decommissioning capability. They will work alongside waste management specialist Veolia.
Mr. Swinney predicts that DWS will add around £10m to the local economy. He said: ‘The decommissioning of North Sea assets presents a huge opportunity for the Scottish oil and gas supply chain. If managed successfully, the North Sea oil and gas industry has the potential to become a global leader in this sector.’ Both Lerwick projects have been supported by the government economic development agency, Highland and Islands Enterprise, which has approved European Regional Development Fund grants of £1.195m to LPA and £628,000 to Peterson.
Peterson Offshore Group director, Murdo MacIver, said: ‘Along with our partner, Veolia, we already have valuable experience in the completion of a number of decommissioning projects. We believe our experience, matched with greater facilities, will earn Shetland the position as a world leader,’ he added.
ILX, takes a keen interest in the development of global projects. On hearing the news, a spokesperson for the company said: ‘The development of a number of new projects in Scotland is exciting news. Establishing Shetland as a global leader for oil and gas will provide the area with a variety of employment opportunities. Infrastructure projects are often at high risk of failure due to poor project management training. With the development of so many projects at once, and with such large investments, ILX is hopeful that the appropriate training has been completed. With qualified project managers in place, the projects are sure to be a success,’ he added.
ILX is a global provider of Best Practice learning solutions and consulting services and is a market leader in PRINCE2 training. Operating across 100 countries, they have delivered learning solutions to corporate, public, and consumer audiences for over 25 years. They have trained over 100,000 learners in more than 5,000 organisations across their virtual and online learning programmes, as well as in classroom environments.
