Energy Minister Sees Cygnus Field Development at Nigg Fabrication Yard

Energy Minister Michael Fallon visited Nigg fabrication yard, a key construction site for the Cygnus project, the largest Southern gas field in the North Sea to be approved and developed in the past 25 years.

A partnership between GDF Suez, Centrica and Bayerngas, the Cygnus project was only made possible because of tax incentives introduced by the UK Government. The project is worth approximately £1.5 billion, and supports around 4,000 jobs. Around 95% of the expenditure associated with the development of this field will be spent with UK based businesses. It is expected to produce 85 billion cubic feet of gas per year, providing enough energy to heat millions of homes and pumping over £4 billion back into the UK economy.

Energy Minister Michael Fallon said: “It is great to see our support for North Sea oil and gas translating into real jobs for the people of Nigg. We are continuing to implement the recommendations of the Wood Review to maximise the potential of the North Sea and make sure the whole of the UK benefits.”

“This is a great example of the positive impact of investment in UK offshore construction and how it secures direct and indirect jobs and expertise in local areas.”

Nigg yard, which is operated by Global Energy Group, is currently producing the subsea infrastructure for the Cygnus project and is one of three construction sites in the UK. The project started in June 2013 and will complete in the second quarter of 2015.

Roy MacGregor, Chairman, Global Energy Group, said: “We are delighted the Energy Minister has taken the time to come north to see our world class facilities. He will be informed of our ambitious plans for expansion and our capabilities to support the energy industry in its many forms.

“We are delighted to be part of the Cygnus project given its importance to gas field development in the North Sea. It is vital the UK government continues to support projects of this nature and good to hear about their support on the views contained in the Wood Review.

“I think everyone in the industry appreciates the importance of implementing the findings contained within this positive and important report for the oil and gas industry.”

Scottish energy projects like this one benefit from access to UK-wide financial incentives, which provide a stable environment for the industry to plan and invest with confidence.

The visit is part of a number of Ministerial visits across the country to highlight more than 200 projects in energy, rail, road, broadband and flood defence builds due to start this year.

In 2014/2015, £36 billion of public and private investment on infrastructure will support up to 150,000 jobs in construction and tens of thousands more in installation, maintenance and operational support following completion.

There will be further additional investment of up to £15 billion in oil and gas this year and £38 billion in rail starting this year for the next five years.

Press Release, April 22, 2014; Image: GDF Suez