A Mitsui-led consortium has taken control at the Port of Nigg in the north of Scotland. Local owners Global Energy Group (GEG) have divested key assets in a strategic sale. The consortium will now have a controlling stake in one of the UK’s leading energy transition hubs. Mitsui & Co., together with shipping giant MOL, also takes on two associated businesses from GEG.
The sale includes the Port of Nigg itself, Global Energy (Fabrication), and Global Energy Services. Mitsui will take a 51% stake in the new ownership structure, with MOL holding the remaining 49%. The move marks Mitsui’s first major investment in a Scottish port, positioning the site for expanded manufacturing and offshore wind capacity.
A landmark change at a landmark site
The deal sees a pivotal transition at a site long associated with energy infrastructure in Scotland. Under Roy MacGregor’s Global Energy Group, Nigg has developed from dormant industrial ground into a modern port specialising in fabrication, offshore wind, and energy services. “We are hugely proud to be passing on the baton at The Port of Nigg,” said MacGregor. “We believe the time is right to let [Mitsui] drive the next stage of development at Nigg – and we believe they are the correct custodian for a facility that provides so much employment and prosperity for the Highlands.”
Earlier this year, the Scottish Government backed Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has approved up to £10 million to support the development of the Port of Nigg’s Inner East Quay, which will result in the creation of a new heavy-duty quayside and the introduction of roll-on roll-off capability. The news comes only a few months after nearby Cromarty Port also announced significant expansion plans to service the offshore energy sector, as reported by WorldCragoNews.
A Highland hub for heavy industry
Located on the Cromarty Firth in Easter Ross, the Port of Nigg occupies a key strategic position in northern Scotland. Its deepwater quays, heavy lift infrastructure, and large laydown areas have made it a vital link in the supply chain for offshore wind, oil and gas, and decommissioning.
Nigg also forms part of the Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, giving it a privileged customs and tax status. This has already attracted projects like the Moray East and Seagreen offshore wind farms and is expected to be critical in supporting ScotWind developments in the North Sea. ScotWind is the branding of the Scottish Government’s offshore wind leasing programme.
Mitsui and MOL look to long-term growth
The new ownership is clear about its ambitions. “We are privileged to take on the stewardship of The Port of Nigg,” said Mitsui’s COO Makoto Takasugi. “We look forward to carrying forward that legacy, working with the skilled local team, servicing the huge demand for offshore wind power.”
His counterpart at Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Masayuki Sugiyama, added: “The Port of Nigg plays an indispensable role in the UK’s energy transition… We are fully committed to contributing to the long-term development of the Highlands and to accelerate a more sustainable future.”
Continuity and cooperation with GEG
Despite the sale, Global Energy Group will not be leaving Nigg entirely. The company retains ownership of several associated businesses, including Global Port Services, Global Crane Services, and Global Wind Projects, all of which will continue to operate at the port.
Global Energy Group will also retain its name and continue to provide labour and project services at Nigg and other locations, including Invergordon, Inverness, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Its energy engineering subsidiary, Apollo, remains outside the transaction and stays within the GEG portfolio.
Energy transition remains the focus
The move is being seen as a vote of confidence in the Highlands’ role in the energy future. Mitsui has already committed to investing further in expanding manufacturing capacity and quayside infrastructure at Nigg, targeting both the oil and gas and renewables sectors.
From fabrication yards to floating wind logistics, Nigg is expected to grow in significance under its new ownership. “The port will continue to grow and develop – providing long term, secure, skilled employment opportunities for generations to come,” said MacGregor.
Mitsui first took a 25.5% stake in GEG Holding Ltd. in 2012. This acquisition represents a deepening of that relationship. “For over 13 years, as a shareholder and board member, we have witnessed the impressive growth of Global Energy Group,” concluded Takasugi.