One of Scotland’s leading offshore engineering and fabrication companies is establishing its first permanent base in Norway this week, First Minister Alex Salmond announced today during his visit to the country.

Global Project Services, a subsidiary of the Global Energy Group, which has been operating in Norway for seven years - with clients including Statoil, Aker Solutions, Kvaerner and Fabricom Suez - has now secured premises near Bergen to build its business in the country.

GPS has supported a range of projects in Norway, including: work on the Statoil Hammerfest LNG (liquefied natural gas) plant, thought to be the world’s most northerly construction site; the development of the Statoil-Alstom Carbon Capture prototype at Mongstad, north of Bergen; and the construction of semi-submersible drilling platforms for Aker.

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The First Minister discussed the company’s ambitious plans for Norway in Oslo today with Gavin Macdonald, Managing Director of GPS.

Mr Salmond said: "The Global Energy Group, and its subsidiaries, are a fantastic Scottish success story, creating jobs and prosperity in Scotland, while exporting its expertise and working with leading multi-nationals to help deliver major engineering projects around the world.

"The development of offshore oil and gas in the North Sea over the last 40 years has led to extensive ties between the sector in Scotland and Norway, and the successful collaboration between Global Project Services and many of Norway’s leading companies epitomises the benefits of these connections.

"I am delighted that Global is now in a position to consolidate and build on what is already a very successful business in Norway, to establish a permanent base in the country and drive forward with its plans for the future."

(GK)