£8.3m boost to create 40 jobs for energy hub
Plans for a Highlands energy hub have been given a multi-million-pound boost in a move than should create almost 40 jobs.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved investment of up to £8.3 million in Scottish Government funding for an £18.9m project to develop the East Quay at Port of Nigg in Easter Ross.
The project will help the economy benefit from the growth in renewable energy development, as well as meeting the needs of existing clients.
Once completed, the new facility is forecast to bring an additional £11m-plus in new business to the area in its first three years and create up to 39 jobs.
Owned by Global Energy Group (GEG), the port is home to the largest graving dock facility in Europe with more than 900 metres of deep-water quayside.
Rory gunn, facilities director at the Port of Nigg, said: “The transformation and upgrade of the facilities at the Port of Nigg have been amazing to be a part of. We truly have a world class facility.
“The investment required to transform nigg into what it is today is significant, and we are eternally thankful to Highland and Islands Enterprise for their continued support on this journey.
“With a 50-year pipeline of opportunity ahead of us with the Scotwind renewables leasing round, the Cromarty Firth facilities are ideally located to support those projects.”
A major asset in servicing the oil and gas industry over many decades, the facility has more recently become an established hub in the potentially lucrative renewables sector.
Work is expected to begin in April and will take some 14-16 months to complete.