THE chairman and managing director of Balmoral Group says he is extremely optimistic the north-east will reap the benefits of the oil and gas industry for years to come.
Jim Milne added that if firms in the sector were willing to take on new and bigger challenges, Aberdeen’s evolving energy industry would continue to be successful.
Mr Milne was speaking yesterday at the launch of the Aberdeen-based engineering company’s new book, Black and Green Gold, which marks its 30th year.
Written by the editor of the Press and Journal’s Energy supplement, Jeremy Cresswell, the book looks at the future of Aberdeen’s oil and gas industry through interviews with business and civic leaders.
Mr Milne said Aberdeen would continue to be a player in the global industry because of the skills and experience gained in the North Sea plus the development of more renewable-energy projects.
He added: “Balmoral Group has not operated in the North Sea for more than five years because all our projects are now farther afield, but we cut our teeth here and built up the expertise that we now export across the world. I am extremely optimistic that Aberdeen is always going to be a busy town for oil and gas, and we also have alternative-energy developments through carbon-capture and wind energy. Aberdeen has a lot of skilled people leading major projects worldwide and that is not going to change as long as the industry is ready to take on new and bigger challenges.”
