Firm hopes for new jobs after energy sector wins
ANORTH East firm is hopeful of creating new jobs after securing a double boost from separate areas of the energy sector.
Liberty Pipes Hartlepool has been awarded two contracts by Subsea7 related to gas field development projects in the North Sea, with the work coming shortly after an announcement on progress on its work in hydrogen transportation and storage.
The company will produce 10 miles of pipes for the Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris offshore field development projects in the North Sea. The contract will start shortly and will continue throughout this year, with fabrication taking place onshore before being towed offshore for installation.
Liberty Pipes Hartlepool is part of the wider Liberty Steel Group, which is owned by Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance. The global company is involved in a number of different elements of the steel supply chain, and is aiming to be at the forefront of moves into greener steel production.
Jeffrey Kabel, Liberty Steel’s chief transformation officer, said: “Liberty’s success in winning this significant new North Sea contract, on top of our recent achievement in becoming the UK’s first producer of hydrogen pipe material and one of a handful globally, highlights how our pipes division can drive development of much-needed energy infrastructure in the UK and around the world.
“The specialist expertise of our Hartlepool team means we are wellpositioned to compete for new orders that can create UK jobs, benefit the wider economy, support energy transition and strengthen UK energy security.”
Meanwhile, the Hartlepool plant has already passed trials to become the first UK producer of pipelines for safe transportation and storage of hydrogen. The company said the move was a “major step in Liberty’s aim to support the UK’s development of low carbon technologies”.
Martin Connelly, technical director at the plant, said: “Liberty is the first steel pipe producer in the UK and one of only a handful globally to confirm it can meet hydrogen standards. We see huge demand in this market and believe it positions us well in forthcoming tenders for several hydrogen service projects.”