A sod-cutting ceremony took place yesterday to mark the start of work on the new Aberdeen offices of fast-growing North Sea operator GDF Suez Exploration and Production (E&P) UK.
Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam, GDF Suez E&P UK managing director Jean-Claude Perdigues and Miller Developments chief executive Phil Miller officially got the project started.
GDF Suez is taking a 15-year lease on the new building in North Esplanade West, which will accommodate up to 200 people and allow the company space to grow as it ramps up activity in the UK North Sea.
The developer is Miller Cromdale, a joint venture between the development division of Scottish construction firm Miller Group and Aberdeen company Cromdale.
Paris-based GDF Suez has had a presence in Aberdeen since 2009.
The company is currently split across three sites in the Granite City; Union Plaza, Holburn House and City Wharf.
Its new building will provide 40,000 square feet of office space and consolidate all the teams in one location from next year.
Mr Perdigues said: “We are rapidly becoming one of the leading operators in exploration and production in the UK continental shelf.
“We are focused on growing our business in the UK North Sea and committed to building on our Aberdeen presence since establishing our UK operations base in Union Plaza.
“This new facility will bring all of our teams under one roof and provide the ideal hub to drive forward our operations from Aberdeen.”
GDF Suez E&P UK is operator of the Cygnus and Juliet gas fields in the southern North Sea. It also has interests in the central North Sea and west of Shetland.