Shell, UK union spar over 'critical' safety concerns at Scottish gas plants

London — Shell and the Unite labor union entered a war of words Oct. 21 over operations at the oil major's St Fergus and Mossmorran gas plants in Scotland after the union raised "critical" safety concerns due to contractor job losses at the facilities.

Unite warned that fire and safety responses to any major incidents at St Fergus -- which receives gas from both Norway and the UK offshore -- and the Mossmorran NGL facility could be "severely impacted."

On its website, Shell says the St Fergus gas plant is "integral" to meeting UK gas requirements, receiving gas through the SEGAL system, including wet gas in the FLAGS pipeline and from the Central North Sea through the Fulmar pipeline.

It also receives gas from Norway through the Tampen pipeline, which connects the Norwegian gas transport system to the FLAGS system.

Shell dismissed Unite's concerns. "The safety of our plants, our teams and our communities is paramount and will not be compromised," a spokesman said.

"Maintenance will be done at the right time by the right specialists. They will now be contracted for specific projects, rather than being based at the plants full time," he said.

Unite alleged that Shell was cutting 80% of "vital" maintenance contractor jobs at the Mossmorran and St Fergus plants.

It said union representatives at both plants had raised major health and safety concerns over the current and future condition of the plants due to the "dramatic reduction in staffing levels."

The Shell spokesman said the company did "not recognize" the figures cited by Unite, saying the planned reduction in its core maintenance team was 12%.

"Other reductions are due to seasonal projects that have already been completed," he said.