The Highland Council has welcomed the progress announced today (Tuesday 25 January 2011) in reactivating the former Nigg oil fabrication yard in East Ross.
Global Energy has confirmed it has been given preferred bidder status and is in the process of purchasing part of the site owned by US company, KBR, and securing a long term lease of the section owned by the Wakelyn Trust, with a view to taking over the site in April.
Council Convener Sandy Park said: "This is very welcome news indeed and signals real progress in unlocking the potential of this site for the offshore renewables industry. We share Global Energy's ambition to create a world class facility that will compete on a global basis."
Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of the Council's Planning Environment and Development (PED) said: "I too welcome this announcement which had been eagerly awaited. Preferred bidder status is an important step in the process of transferring ownership of Nigg and it is important that things develop at pace from now on.
"As planning authority, we await with great interest the plans they have to unlock the potential of the site and re-develop it as the engine of growth for the Highland economy."
"We want to see a full and early use of the yard and a use which is compatible with the approved Master Plan. It is particularly important that we are able to grasp the narrow time window for offshore renewables development opportunities. The Plan gives us a very clear vision of how the site could be developed to maximise its potential and provide significant numbers of sustainable jobs for the Highland economy for the next 15-20 years. This will be fundamental for any consideration of any future planning applications."
The Master Plan recommends a multi-user industrial facility at the yard, advocating the potential development that will diversify activities into renewables at Nigg whilst building on its long-standing reputation within the oil and gas industry.