Global Energy Group said yesterday that work had begun to bring the glory days back to the former Nigg oil yard on the Cromarty Firth.
Executive chairman Roy MacGregor wants to make it a home for all types of renewable-energy and oil businesses.
The 238-acre complex has been renamed Nigg Energy Park and nearly £10million will be spent refitting it between now and 2016.
Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are both supporting this work, to a value of more than £2million.
In its heyday, the yard on the Cromarty Firth employed 5,000.
Over 2,000 jobs are expected to be created between now and 2015.
Global has 170 people on the site, who work for its engineering and fabrication subsidiary, Isleburn. Mr MacGregor’s firm will own some of the new ventures connected to the oil, gas and green-energy sectors, but others will be run by tenants.
Last October’s deal to acquire Nigg from US company KBR and the Wakelyn Trust was understood to be worth over £10million.
Mr MacGregor said yesterday that considerable upgrade work would be necessary on the site.
Nigg director Douglas Yule said: “Tenders have been issued for some serious building-related works where some structures will need to come down that are dangerous and where we can clear the site to allow it to look better to the possible tenants and investors visiting the site.
“First impressions are important and we are now embarking upon a facelift to the main offices to bring them up to a good standard. These offices were created in the 1970s and they need to be modernised and equipped for today’s marketplace and we have employed local tradesmen to complete these works over the next few weeks.”
Other work beginning is the upgrade of the massive 16,000-tonne drydock gate.
Global said this would be an extremely busy year as it progressed its ambitious plans for marketing Nigg to other firms and investors.
Mr MacGregor said work had been going on for a year behind the scenes to highlight the benefits of Nigg. He added: “We have had many companies coming north to visit the site and all recognise the advantages of this unique facility with 365-day opening, deep-berth facilities and extended quayside space.
“With Nigg being in our ownership, we do see real opportunities for not just Global, but for the Highlands and Scottish economy. Our people are working very hard to ensure we maximise the potential for Nigg and the opportunities this will hopefully provide and we are grateful for the support we are receiving from the public sector in this area.
“However, we also need to appreciate this will not happen overnight and we do require to progress the remedial and upgrade work to bring the site up to a quality standard.”