Buyers for mothballed Nigg yard emerge

An oil and gas drilling vessel anchored near Nigg in Easter Ross

Potential buyers for the mothballed Nigg fabrication yard in Easter Ross have emerged.

Scottish company Global Energy Group and the Cromarty Firth Port Authority have put in a joint offer.

Midlands-based demolition group DSM has also made a move to purchase the massive site.

Earlier this year US owner KBR scrapped plans to start manufacturing components for the offshore renewables industry at Nigg and put the yard back up for sale.

It is believed as many as four bids have been made for Nigg.

Global Energy Group offers support services to the energy industry and has bases in Inverness, Invergordon and Muir of Ord in the Highlands and Dyce, near Aberdeen.

A spokesman said: "We can confirm that an initial bid has been submitted to KBR's agents by Cromarty Firth Port Authority and the Global Energy Group under the auspices of a joint venture agreement.

"The object of this bid is to reactivate the Nigg fabrication yard as a multi-user energy-related facility which will expand its commercial opportunities, benefiting the Highlands and Islands and Scotland as a whole."

He added: "As you would expect, the details of the bid are commercial and confidential and cannot be disclosed at this time."

DSM proposes using the yard for the demolition of vessels and platforms, but also as an "energy park" where other firms could manufacture renewable power devices.

The company already owns land near the site.

A spokesman said: "DSM is pleased to confirm that we have submitted a comprehensive and compelling bid to purchase the land interests of KBR at Nigg yard.

"We are very enthusiastic about delivering the yard as Nigg Energy Park and trust that in acquiring the remainder of the site, we will be able to deliver what is a superb opportunity for an economic development and renewable energy project for the Highlands."

Previously, Nigg was involved in the construction of oil and gas platforms and at its height employed thousands of workers.