Hopes are growing that a new plant, employing hundreds of people making steel towers for offshore windfarms, could be in the pipeline for Nigg Energy Park.
Owners Global Energy Group revealed images of its proposed development of the Easter Ross site, apparently showing the structures being transported from fabrication sheds to waiting ships.
Although the Inverness-based company declined to give more details on grounds of “continuing commercial sensitivities”, the pictures formed part of a video presentation shown to visitors to a “drop in” session for local residents at Nigg village hall. The event, which is being followed by another in Cromarty tonight, is part of a public consultation exercise being carried out by the firm ahead of lodging formal planning applications with Highland Council to expand the energy park.
There has been widespread speculation in the area that the energy sector service company, headed by entrepreneur Roy MacGregor, is on the verge on securing major new tenants involved in the offshore renewables industry for Nigg.
Nigg Energy Park general manager, Rory Gunn, said planned developments at the facility were not expected to increase current noise levels there.
Visitors to yesterday’s event were positive about the possibility of new work being attracted to the park, which has been hit by the downturn in the offshore oil and gas industry.
Peter Grant, an associate member of Nigg Community Council, said: “I don’t see any great problem. I gather they have not decided yet if it is going to be a 12 or 24-hour operation.
“My only concern would be about noise levels, but I have been assured by the company today that would not be a problem.
“My main hope is that it will result in new jobs at a major fabrication facility. People locally would welcome any development that brings employment.”
David Macdonald, chairman of Tain Community Council described Global’s expansion plan for Nigg as a “very exciting project.”
He added: “If it comes off, it will bring considerable and much-needed opportunities for the community in terms of employment and create a solid base for further economic development in the area.
“Nigg has been in slow decline again and this is an opportunity, hopefully, to arrest that.”
Global bought the then-virtually dormant former North Sea oil platform fabrication yard in 2011 and more than £45million has subsequently been spent re-developing it into a “multi-energy” site.
But the continuing downturn has seen the workforce there drop from hundreds to as low as 10 in recent months.
Inverness building consultant Gary Johnston, who is advising the company on the development, said it was hoped formal planning applications would be lodged by early November.
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