Cable firm Tekmar Energy returns to oil and gas sector
A leading cable protection firm in the offshore wind industry has been tempted back into the oil and gas market.
County Durham-based Tekmar Energy has announced plans to open a base in Aberdeen to meet demand in the rapidly expanding subsea sector.
It aims to generate £15m in turnover from its oil and gas operations by 2016 as part of a strategy to increase overall turnover from £22m to £50m.
Founded in 1985, the firm initially specialised in oil and gas.
It later moved into the expanding offshore renewables industry, developing bespoke protection systems for cables connecting wind turbines.
Tekmar said the Aberdeen move did not affect its position in offshore renewables, as it also planned to expand its existing operations in the north-east of England.
Chief Executive James Richie said: "Within the rapidly expanding subsea oil and gas sector, there is rising demand for high quality, reliable protection systems for subsea umbilicals, risers and flowlines.
"We are gearing up to respond to this need with a flexible, high quality service and reduced delivery times.
"Oil and gas is an area we already know and understand and we feel the time is right for us to return to this sector."
Over the past five years Tekmar has installed more than 1,200 cable protection systems and has a further 1,000 in design or manufacture for the 26 windfarms it has been involved in across Europe.