French firm puts HQ of renewables in Aberdeen

A MAJOR international energy company is to locate its headquarters for renewable technology in Aberdeen.

The announcement by French company Technip came yesterday as First Minister Alex Salmond was in Paris to meet energy and finance executives to discuss investment in Scottish wind and wave power. Mr Salmond said the announcement was a sign of Scotland's strength in the renewable sector.

Technip already employs 800 people in the Granite City, and Mr Salmond said he hoped its announcement would herald thousands more jobs in the renewable sector. He said the decision was "a huge vote of confidence in Scotland's position as a global leader in renewables innovation, and underlines the massive wealth of human capital and enginering knowledge in the North-east".

Technip chairman Thierry Pilenko said: "The group's operating centre in Aberdeen will be able to capitalise on its expertise in offshore operations, fleet management and project execution to tackle the challenges of the renewable energy industry and succeed in its new assignment."