ATLANTIS Resources has highlighted the infrastructure progress made at its flagship tidal power generation scheme in the Pentland Firth.
The AIM-listed company said the MeyGen project had almost 6,000 tonnes of steel delivered in the first six months of this year to help weigh down the foundations for the underwater turbines.
Along with improvements in access roads and construction infrastructure it also pointed out four ducts, each more than half a kilometre in length, had been bored into cliffs in the shoreline.
Those ducts will eventually carry the subsea power cables connecting an onshore control centre in Caithness with the turbines on the seabed.
The cables are expected to be deployed offshore this autumn while the first turbines, being built by Lockheed Martin, remain on course to be installed and connected next year.
John Neill, chairman, confirmed the company has entered into a preferred supplier agreement with Global Energy Group after agreeing a lease for a workshop and turbine assembly facility at the Nigg yard on the Cromarty Firth.
He said: “We are working with the Scottish supply chain in particular to diversify exposure for traditionally oil and gas focused contractors.”
Atlantis hopes its base at Nigg can act as a hub for the tidal industry by “providing a base for turbine assembly and testing and for future project operations and maintenance”.
Revenue for the first six months of 2015 was £500,000, mainly derived from third party consulting revenue. Pre-tax losses narrowed from around £4.4m to £3.75m.
Mr Neill added: “We now look forward to building on this successful start to the year to ensure that the MeyGen project is ready for first power production in 2016.”
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