Decommissioning challenge fund expanded

Further support available for Scottish decommissioning projects (August 9th).An additional £5 million has been made available to the supply chain in Scotland to help maximise the economic benefit from the decommissioning of North Sea infrastructure.Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands Paul Wheelhouse announced the Decommissioning Challenge Fund (DCF) will reopen for a third round of funding during a visit to Aberdeen to meet the new CEOs of Decom North Sea and Aberdeen Harbour, John Warrender and Michelle Handforth.Following grant awards of £4.8 million in 2017, the DCF 3 will continue to support infrastructure upgrades at Scotland’s ports, innovation in retrieval and transport approaches, as well as supply chain projects that will strengthen Scottish decommissioning capabilities and capacities. It can also support engineering scoping work, feasibility studies and business development at key sites to help to attract further private investment.Alongside the Decommissioning Action Plan, launched by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise at the end of 2016, the fund will help Scotland’s oil and gas sector make the most of decommissioning opportunities at home and abroad.