Fulcrum has secured a project to deliver seasonal gas supplies to four major Scottish distilleries, Tamdhu, Dalmunach, Cardhu and Knockando.

The company has been awarded an almost £4 million contract to install a 13 kilometre pipeline linking Scotland's main gas network to the distilleries located in Speyside.

The pipeline will deliver approximately 4,700 cubic metres of gas every hour.

Fulcrum was awarded the contract by a partnership of three whisky companies that will share the cost of the pipeline, Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Ian MacLeod Distillers.

The connection to the gas network will help reduce the distilleries' carbon footprints by cutting their reliance on fuel oil and ending the need for its delivery by road tankers during summer months.

As a result of the limitations of the current local gas infrastructure, the new pipeline will enable the distilleries to receive a gas supply from 1st April until 30th September each year, when domestic usage is lower.

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The project is scheduled to begin in August 2015, being delivered by a dedicated team of Fulcrum managers and engineers. Among the challenges the team will overcome is the transportation of gas across the river Spey.

Fulcrum has designed a bespoke-engineered system which will carry the pipeline across the river at Carronbridge without impacting on the local environment and scenery.

The contract award follows from the company's completion of a 16-mile pipeline connecting four other Speyside distilleries in 2014.

The largest project to date was a £7.6 million scheme to bring gas to Cragganmore, The Glenlivet, Tormore and Tomintoul distilleries on behalf of Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Angus Dundee.

The distilleries have been able to switch to a less carbon-intensive fuel source as a result of the project.

Martin Donnachie, Chief Executive of Fulcrum, said: "We are very proud to continue our relationship with Scotland’s historic whisky industry and support its drive to achieve long-term environmental efficiencies.

"The project will also further strengthen Scotland’s gas infrastructure by bringing new connections to important businesses that are major local employers and make a significant contribution to the economy."

The delivery of the previous project and this latest contract has been supported by the work of a government initiated gas taskforce, which has come together to address the region and its industry’s power infrastructure requirements.

(LM/MH)