Two contracts have been signed for the construction of an oil production platform.

The moves will create a total of 350 jobs in Fife and the Isle of Lewis.

Premier Oil is developing its Solan oil field, west of Shetland, and has awarded the contract to Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab), spurring it to double its workforce by the end of this year.

BiFab, based in Fife, will create structures for the platform at its Methil, Burntisland and Arnish yards.

At its Methil yard, the company is already working on the topside production unit for the Solan development.

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The jacket will also be built at Methil in Fife, with some work carried out in Burntisland, along the Fife coast, and at Arnish, near Stornoway.

Built for 135m of water, it will be one of the tallest such structures made in Scotland, and is due for floating out in April 2014.

The Solan field is expected to produce about 24,000 barrels of oil per day from the fourth quarter of 2014.

BiFab's managing director, John Robertson, said: "The two contracts were won we believe, not only due to a commercially attractive bid, but also due to the ability and experience of BiFab's management and workforce to deliver a quality product, on schedule and with a good safety culture.

"BiFab is known as one of the largest manufacturers of jacket sub-structures for offshore wind turbines but this is the largest jacket to date for the oil and gas sector."

Mr Robertson said the contract would allow the company to continue its apprentices programme.

(NE)