Ardersier Port, owned by Haventus, has recently become a member of the esteemed Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport consortium, further expanding the consortium's list of esteemed members, including the Port of Cromarty Firth and Port of Inverness. This consortium also boasts the participation of notable organizations such as Global Energy Group, The Highland Council, the University of the Highlands and Islands, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, and Inverness Chamber of Commerce.
The 450-acre Ardersier Port site is currently undergoing a significant redevelopment initiative, with the former McDermott Yard being transformed into a prominent energy transition facility. This redevelopment aims to unlock the site's immense potential in facilitating the deployment of major offshore wind projects, thereby contributing to the broader energy transition objectives.
See also: Ardersier Port secures £300m investment to become key offshore wind and energy transition hub
By revitalizing the port, the project is expected to generate employment opportunities locally, bolster the supply chain, contribute to the goal of achieving net zero emissions, and deliver substantial benefits to the port's neighboring communities and the overall Highland economy.
Haventus' Chief Executive, Lewis Gillies, expressed his delight at joining the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport consortium. He emphasized the significance of the consortium's green freeport status, which will provide investment incentives for port users, enabling smoother international trade and stimulating local economic growth. Gillies highlighted the immense energy opportunities currently present in Scotland and the UK, comparable to the discovery of North Sea oil and gas. Becoming a member of the Green Freeport consortium allows Haventus to leverage these opportunities, ultimately benefiting businesses and communities in the region. Gillies eagerly anticipates collaborating with consortium partners to realize these advantages.
Speaking on behalf of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, Chair Jim Smith extended a warm welcome to Haventus, acknowledging the positive impact their membership will have. Smith emphasized that the addition of a fifth port facility strengthens the Green Freeport's objectives of facilitating the construction of offshore wind farms and expediting Scotland's transition to a net-zero economy. Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, strategically positioned, aims to flourish as a thriving hub for the renewable energy industry. The green freeport status will help cultivate a sustainable pipeline of jobs that will not only benefit Scotland but also the broader United Kingdom.
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The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Ltd (ICF) operates as a company limited by guarantee and originated from Opportunity Cromarty Firth, the consortium responsible for successfully securing the bid to establish a Green Freeport.
