Spanish and Belgian firms have clinched a £370m deal to build and operate a new waste-to-energy plant in Aberdeen.
The North East Scotland Shared (Ness) Energy Project is expected to create about 40 full-time jobs and process about 150,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste a year on behalf of Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Moray councils, helping the three local authorities comply with a landfill ban for household waste due to be introduced in 2021.
Spanish construction group Acciona will build the spaceship-like facility in East Tullos, while Belgian waste management company Indaver will operate it for at least 20 years.
Indaver chief executive Paul De Bruycker said: “The Ness project is an excellent example of the circular economy by providing Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray with a sustainable and energy-efficient way to treating non-recyclable waste.”
Acciona was chosen as the preferred bidder to deliver the project earlier this year.
The overall price tag, which includes engineering, procurement and construction, as well as operations and maintenance costs, represents another huge investment in Aberdeen.
Europe’s oil and gas capital has already seen a colossal amount spent on a new bypass road and events venue, with a string of other projects – such as the £350m harbour expansion – either recently completed, still on the go or in the pipeline.
Councillors gave planning approval for the new waste facility, despite local opposition, in 2016.