Highland Council has welcomed news that Global Energy has secured preferred bidder status in moves to reactivate the Nigg oil fabrication yard in East Ross.
The company is in the process of buying part of the site from 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.
"This is very welcome news indeed and signals real progress in unlocking the potential of this site for the offshore renewables industry," said convenor Sandy Park.
"We share Global Energy's ambition to create a world class facility that will compete on a global basis."
The Council's master plan foresees a multi-user industrial facility at the yard, advocating developments that will diversify activities into renewable energy while building on its reputation within the oil and gas industries.
"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," said planning environment and development chairman Ian Ross.
"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."
