Scottish gov’t offers over $2 million in decommissioning grants

The Scottish Government’s Decommissioning Challenge Fund has offered six projects a share of £1.5 million ($2.14M) in the second round of grant awards.

The Scottish Government said on Thursday that grant offers had been made to six projects in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kishorn, Shetland, and Orkney.

The Decommissioning Challenge Fund supports infrastructure improvements and innovation to deliver decommissioning of North Sea oil and gas infrastructure.

Projects in this round include innovation in well plugging and abandonment, dry dock upgrades, quayside strengthening investigation, and two specialist decommissioning equipment projects in Shetland.

During a visit to Dales Marine at the Imperial Dry Dock in Leith Docks, one of the projects to receive a grant offer, Minister for Business, Innovation, and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “Decommissioning offers a variety of opportunities for Scottish based firms, such as Dales Marine, right across the supply chain.

“I am delighted to contribute to this ambitious project to upgrade the Imperial Dry Dock in Leith, which will ensure the future of this historically significant site for vessel decommissioning, keeping skilled jobs within our economy.

“Our Decommissioning Challenge Fund is a clear signal to the market to think seriously about decommissioning, a market that is forecast to be worth up to £17 billion over the period to 2025, and to plan and invest accordingly.”

It is worth noting that Scotland’s new Energy Strategy, launched in December, recognized that decommissioning offers significant economic opportunities, and was committed to enhancing the capabilities and capacity in Scotland.

Alongside the Decommissioning Action Plan, launched by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 2016, the Fund will help Scotland’s oil and gas sector make the most of decommissioning opportunities at home and abroad.