Multi-million-pound boost for Highlands energy hub with 40 jobs in pipeline

Plans for a Highlands energy hub have been given a multi-million-pound boost in a move than should create almost 40 jobs.

The Port of Nigg from the air. Picture: Inverair Drone Services

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved investment of up to £8.3 million in Scottish Government funding for an £18.9m project to develop the East Quay at Port of Nigg in Easter Ross.

The project will help the economy benefit from the growth in renewable energy development, as well as meeting the needs of existing clients.

Once completed, the new facility is forecast to bring an additional £11m-plus in new business to the area in its first three years and create up to 39 jobs.

Owned by Global Energy Group (GEG), the port is home to the largest graving dock facility in Europe with more than 900 metres of deep-water quayside.

Rory Gunn, facilities director at the Port of Nigg, said: “The transformation and upgrade of the facilities at the Port of Nigg have been amazing to be a part of during the past few years. We truly have a world class facility.

“The investment required to transform Nigg into what it is today is significant, and we are eternally thankful to Highland and Islands Enterprise for their continued support on this journey.

“With a 50-year pipeline of opportunity ahead of us with the Scotwind renewables leasing round, the Cromarty Firth facilities are ideally located to support those projects.”

A major asset in servicing the oil and gas industry over many decades, the facility has more recently become an established hub in the potentially lucrative renewables sector.

Work on the project is expected to begin in April and will take some 14-16 months to complete.

Alistair Dodds, chair of HIE, added: “The Highlands and Islands is already a leading region in the advent of renewable energy and indeed punching above its weight in the transition to a net zero economy.

“Port of Nigg is very much at the heart of that. It has been a key player in the energy sector and its potential to contribute to and secure benefits from the growth in renewables is clear.

“This is a very welcome initiative by Global Energy Group and one that will benefit the region for many years to come.”

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