Scotland’s First Minister supports ambition for Highlands Net Zero Future

• First Minister John Swinney visited Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport partner port, Port of Nigg

Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport (ICFGF) yesterday (Monday 18, November) welcomed Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney to the Highlands to build support for the ambition to position the region at the heart of a net zero economy.

The First Minister was welcomed by Calum MacPherson, Chief Executive of ICFGF, and Roy MacGregor OBE, Chairman of Global Energy Group. During a tour of Port of Nigg, one of the green freeport’s founding partners, he was introduced to members of the Global Energy Group fabrication team who are involved in a number of significant offshore energy projects.

Mr MacPherson said: “The green freeport represents a transformational opportunity for the Highlands as the largest maritime heavy engineering site in the UK. For our communities, this means more than 10,000 new jobs, over £3 billion of inward investment and a lasting legacy for the next generation.

“In a globally competitive environment, the tax incentives and profile provided by Green Freeport status are critical to our success. Together with partners, we welcomed the opportunity to share our ambition with the First Minister, while demonstrating our potential to become a major European hub for the development of the offshore wind industry and associated renewable energy technologies.”

ICFGF’s Outline Business Case was approved by the Scottish and UK governments in April 2024 and a decision on the Full Business Case is expected soon. Legislation already passed at Westminster, and corresponding legislation in Holyrood, means operators and businesses on the shores of the Cromarty Firth, in Inverness and Ardersier, can already benefit from a package of tax benefits and other incentives.

First Minister John Swinney said:

“Scotland’s Green Freeports stand to make a major contribution to attracting private investment – promoting growth in high-productivity sectors and creating large numbers of good jobs. 

“The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport aims to create thousands of local jobs in the Highlands and attract investment in the region of over £3.5bn forecast over the next 5 years alone.

“It will focus on the renewable and low-carbon energy industries, particularly offshore wind and green hydrogen, which will help to drive the transition to net zero.

“Visiting the site was an opportunity to see first-hand the progress that has been made to date – and to get a sense of the scale of the future potential here.

“The Scottish Government will continue to play its part in supporting the success of our two Green Freeports and maximising the benefits for Scotland’s economy.”

 Roy MacGregor OBE, Chairman of Global Energy Group said:

“We are delighted to welcome the First Minister to the Port of Nigg to witness firsthand the significant investments made in our facility

“At Global Energy Group, we have a longstanding commitment to the energy transition and have invested heavily in transforming our site and services portfolio to deliver a renewables superhub capable of supporting Scotland’s future Energy ambitions

“Having critical enabling infrastructure at the heart of the Green Freeport, helped secure Scotland’s very first Green Freeport investor, Sumitomo Electric, the first of what we hope are several, high value manufacturers of critical components to the region. We continue to collaborate with industry and our supply chain partners to create further opportunities that will cement the Highland’s leading role, in Scotland’s green energy future.”

ENDS

For more information, please contact Gaby Beaton, Communication Advisor at Aspect: The Strategic Communication Experts, on [email protected] or +44 (0)7869 808150

Picture caption

First Minister John Swinney visits the Port of Nigg, a partner port of the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport. Pictured (L-R): Calum MacPherson, Chief Executive of ICFGF; First Minister John Swinney; and Roy MacGregor OBE, Chairman of Global Energy Group.

Notes to editors

About Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport

Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Ltd (ICFGF) is set to “revolutionise” the Highland economy, generating significant inward investment and stimulating major new manufacturing activity locally and elsewhere in Scotland and the UK.

It will also play a vital role in the country’s transition from fossil fuels to clean, green energy, while creating new long-term and green employment opportunities. 

The company is backed by port owners Port of Cromarty Firth, Global Energy Group at Port of Nigg, Port of Inverness, and Haventus (Ardersier Port), Highland Deephaven, The Highland Council, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Highlands and Islands Enterprise. In total more than 30 regional, national and international businesses, public sector organisations and academic bodies are associated with the initiative.

The creation of the green freeport will maximise local and Scotland-wide benefits from a pipeline of renewable energy projects, placing the Highlands at the heart of the drive towards net-zero and developing world leading capabilities in floating offshore wind and hydrogen production.

Strict protections will ensure the highest standards are followed within the freeport covering planning, the environment and working conditions. A fair work charter has been agreed by all landowners such that the working terns will be more protected within the tax sites than outwith.

The Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and was born out of Opportunity Cromarty Firth, the consortium which led the successful bid to become a green freeport.

More information about the green freeport and associate members is available on the ICFGF website.