NEL invests £16m in new global oil and gas subsea centre in East Kilbride

A new £16 million ‘Centre of Excellence’ for  global subsea energy development is to be established in East Kilbride.

Led by TÜV SÜD Limited (NEL), a research and development consultancy and test-lab for the international oil & gas industry, this investment offers a significant contribution to growth ambitions of companies operating within the oil & gas sector.

TÜV SÜD AG has agreed to invest £11.1 million in its NEL site in East Kilbride to develop the CoE for subsea development, supported by a £4.9 million development grant from Scottish Enterprise.

The project marks the largest capital investment to date in the company’s UK business and, in addition to creating at least 17 new jobs, will safeguard a further 82 existing jobs in Scotland.  

Focused predominantly on the £50 billion per annum global subsea sector, which is already home to approximately 370 companies in Scotland, the CoE will also offer potential benefits to companies in other sectors such as nuclear power, food and drink, aerospace and renewable energy.

Colette Cohen, Chief Executive of the Oil & Gas Technology Centre, added: “Subsea is a core area of excellence in the UK and it is great to see continued investment in the facilities and capabilities supporting this key area of expertise.”

Scottish Industry Minister Keith Brown, MSP, added: “It is a testament to the international standing of the oil and gas sector in Scotland that the company has chosen to make this investment. It also reflects the bright future that the oil and gas industry and its supply chain can enjoy, especially when supported by innovations such as this Centre for Excellence for Flow Measurement and Fluid Mechanics‎.

“When complete, the Centre will place Scotland as a world leader in this exciting field. This will not only help the oil and gas sector to maximise economic recovery, but could have wide-ranging benefits for the food and drink, renewable and aerospace industries.”