WASHINGTON: The Port of Cromarty Firth is poised to move into the lucrative decommissioning market after applying for licences. The Invergordon port has become the first to seek decommissioning permits from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) under the updated regulations. The port says the work will bring new jobs to the area and, if permits are granted, decommissioning projects could start in September. The port lodged two applications, one under Pollution Prevention Control regulations and one under the Radioactive Substances Act. The radioactive part of the application is for the safe handling of naturally occurring radioactive materials that may be present on energy structures.
Consultation on the port’s plans to bring decommissioning to the area began last August with port users, local community councils and politicians. Public notices are being issued this week to begin the final consultation phase. Investment in a new quayside at the port’s Invergordon Service Base means the port has three berths and 80,000 square metres of laydown space ready to accept decommissioning projects from the September deadline. It is estimated it will cost around £75 billion to decommission oil and gas structures which are coming to the end of their life in the North Sea. However, to date, most of the contracts have gone to Europe because of the lack of adequate licensed facilities in Scotland.
Port general manager Captain Calum Slater said: “The port is ideally located in the North Sea. Our status as a trust port, together with our proven environmental record, ensures platforms will be decommissioned in a way that meets the latest environmental standards. “We are already in discussions with customers who have structures to decommission and I can see the first of the new era coming to the firth next year. “Other ports are aligning to a single contractor, but we’re doing the opposite to provide customers more flexibility and choice. “Our open port philosophy will allow any reputable client, operator or contractor to use the port’s decommissioning licence. “The port will work with these companies to ensure that all dismantling activities at the Invergordon Service Base are carried out to the highest standard.”
