14 May 2012 Last updated at 19:22 ET

Highland firm Global Energy Group sets up Norway base

Global Energy Group is expanding fast as it develops the Nigg fabrication yard

Highland-based offshore engineering and fabrication firm Global Energy Group is establishing its first permanent base in Norway.

Subsidiary Global Project Services (GPS), which has been operating in the country for the past seven years, has secured premises near Bergen.

The base will support work already being undertaken for oil operators in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

First Minister Alex Salmond announced the move during a visit to Norway.

GPS has supported a range of projects in Norway including work on the Statoil Hammerfest liquefied natural gas plant and the development of the Statoil-Alstom carbon capture prototype at Mongstad, north of Bergen.

It has also supported the construction of semi-submersible drilling platforms for Aker Solutions.

'Success story'

Mr Salmond said: "The Global Energy Group, and its subsidiaries, are a fantastic Scottish success story, creating jobs and prosperity in Scotland, while exporting its expertise and working with leading multi-nationals to help deliver major engineering projects around the world.

"The development of offshore oil and gas in the North Sea over the last 40 years has led to extensive ties between the sector in Scotland and Norway, and the successful collaboration between Global Project Services and many of Norway's leading companies epitomises the benefits of these connections."

Global Energy has grown rapidly from its twin headquarters in Aberdeen and Inverness, and has plans to expand even faster as it redevelops the Nigg fabrication yard on the Cromarty Firth, which it purchased last October.

More than half of its 4,300 workers are based in Scotland, but its expansion plans will mean more presence overseas.

Mr Salmond is set to meet a number of Norwegian companies which are investing in Scotland, as the Scottish government prepares to publish a new strategy for the oil and gas sector later this month.