'Sleeping giant' yard secures licence that could pave way for decommissioning work boost
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A MAJOR Ross-shire yard has sent out a clear signal it is ready for the challenges and opportunities presented by oil and gas decommissioning work.
That's the message today after confirmation that Kishorn Port Ltd (KPL) has secured a Waste Management Licence (WML) from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas assets at its yard and dry dock.
That paves the way for KPL to engage in the growing North Sea decommissioning sector. it is one of the first Scottish facilities to secure a WML for this purpose.
The yard has been dubbed a 'sleeping giant' given its previous status as a major employer during the peak years of the North Sea oil and gas boom.
KPL recently completed a further programme of investment on the site assisted by a grant from the latest round of the Scottish Government’s Decommissioning Challenge Fund (DCF).
That included consultancy work for licence applications, additional upgrades and repairs to the dry dock and the provision of a drainage development plan.
Scotland’s Energy Minister, Paul Wheelhouse, said: “I’m delighted Kishorn Port has been able to improve its facilities, particularly the improvements made as a result of successful applications to our Decommissioning Challenge Fund. This year I am happy to confirm we are investing £520,000 in additional infrastructure upgrades and waste management consultancy. This takes our investment in Kishorn to over £1.3 million in two years of the Decommissioning Challenge Fund.
"The port securing its Waste Management Licence and the recent successful visit of the Ocean GreatWhite semi-submersible rig are fantastic endorsements of Kishorn Port Ltd and this location. These are clear signals to the market that Kishorn and Scotland are ready for the challenges and opportunities of oil and gas decommissioning.
"This unique facility complements decommissioning activity across the country and will ensure Scotland can provide world class facilities with an answer for every decommissioning challenge. I am confident the market will take note of these developments.”
KPL has also just been awarded financial assistance of £550,000 from Highland and Islands Enterprise (HIE) towards the purchase of two dry dock gate anchor arrays to enable the anchoring of the dry dock gates in Loch Kishorn between projects.
Robert Muir, area manager for HIE in the Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross area team, said: “This market-led investment greatly increases the chance of securing its first large decommissioning project and future proofs the facility for further opportunities in the manufacture of concrete structures for offshore energy industries.
“We are also delighted to invest in the upgrade of the dry dock at Kishorn Port which provides an ideal location for major decommissioning projects. It would be great to see it coming to life again, providing valuable rural jobs and contributing to both economic and community growth and the wider competitiveness of the region.”
Alasdair Ferguson, a director of KPL, said: “The invaluable support from the DCF and HIE has enabled us to further invest £1.6 million at Kishorn, making the site shovel ready for the receipt of oil and gas assets and a first rate decommissioning destination. We have already received a number of positive enquiries for the use of the dry dock, which we are now in a position to take to the next stage."
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