Partner Article

Corus wins £200m deal

Steel giant Corus has won an order worth almost £200m to supply pipes to energy giant Total for a new gas field project, it has been announced.

The company said over 150,000 tonnes of pipeline will be produced at its site in Hartlepool for the Laggan-Tormore offshore development west of the Shetlands in Scotland.

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said the order was “excellent news” for the Corus workforce.

The Corus pipe mill will supply the pipes to Total and its partner Dong Energy, which are investing £2.5bn in developing the offshore gasfields.

The order, for 520 kilometres (323 miles) of pipes, will safeguard or create 350 jobs over the next two years.

Total and Corus signed a contract at the London office of Lord Mandelson, who said: “This is excellent news for the Corus workforce at Hartlepool. Through their hard work they have won a prestigious contract to supply pipes for Total’s development of gas fields in Shetland.”

Energy Minister Lord Hunt said: “The west of Shetland is one of the most challenging marine environments in the UK and this new pipeline is key to opening the area up to further oil and gas developments.

“The development has already encouraged other new projects and will help ensure secure energy supplies for years to come. The project is good news for jobs and it’s welcome that this important contract has gone to Corus.”

Total managing director Roland Festor said: “Developing the Laggan and Tormore gas fields in 600 metres of water in the harshest environment on the UK Continental Shelf will be a major challenge and the support and expertise of suppliers such as Corus will be vital to the success of the project.”

Corus chief executive Kirby Adams said: “I am delighted that Corus’s world-class large-diameter Hartlepool pipe facility has been recognised through the awarding of this contract. The securing of jobs and the creation of new ones at Hartlepool are particularly welcome.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .