Petrofac given Total Shetland gas contract worth £500m

The gas from the development will be used to supply customers across the UK

A contract worth more than £500m for the development of a gas processing plant on Shetland has been awarded to Aberdeen-based Petrofac.

The scheme, led by the French oil giant Total, will see a new processing plant built at Sullom Voe to bring gas ashore, creating hundreds of jobs.

Gas is expected to start coming in through the new terminal by 2014.

The gas, from fields west of Shetland, will be used to supply customers across the UK.

Bill Dunnett, managing director of Petrofac offshore engineering and operations, said: "Today's announcement represents a very significant milestone."