A North Sea gas field is set to create 1,500 Scottish jobs and boost the UK economy by £1.3billion.
Oxford University has released a report into the substantial Cygnus gas project, which started drilling at its North Sea site yesterday.
Cygnus is the UK’s largest gas field discovery in the southern region of the North Sea in the past 25 years.
The field, which has estimated reserves of 635billion cubic feet of gas, is operated by GDF Suez and Centrica.
The university research found the scheme will support more than 4,820 skilled jobs during its five-year construction project.
Economic benefits of the project will be felt in Scotland and the North of England as 19,000 tons of infrastructure is built at yards in Fife, the Hebrides and Hartlepool.
The Scottish economy is also expected to be boosted by an estimated £323million, as well as securing more than 1,000 jobs during manufacturing of the four main platforms for the field.
Burntisland Fabrication is providing jackets and piles for the platforms as well as the construction of the quarters and utilities platform.
The work for the Scottish firm will be undertaken at facilities in Methil and Burntisland in Fife, as well as Arnish on the Isle of Lewis.
