A JOINT venture between Wood Group and a conglomerate based in Trinidad has won a multi-million dollar contract for construction work on a liquefied natural gas plant on the Caribbean island.

Neal & Massy Wood Group has been appointed by Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago to work on a liquefaction facility on Trinidad's southwest coast.

Vaughn Martin, managing director for the joint venture, said the contract significantly expands its business in Trinidad. Aberdeen-based Wood Group is also working on LNG facilities in other countries, including Australia. The company is capitalising on a surge in global investment in LNG plants. These allow firms to convert gas into liquid form for shipping worldwide.

Neal & Massy Wood Group was established in 2003 and works on facilities in the oil and gas, petrochemical and power industries in Trinidad and Tobago. It employs more than 600 people.

Neal & Massy's interests range from oil services to supermarkets.

Separately, Eland Oil & Gas, which has headquarters in Aberdeen, said it has raised £14m working capital for its operations in Nigeria and general purposes from existing investors.

Solstice International Investments and Helios Natural Resources Limited each subscribed for 7m shares at 100p per share under options agreements that were in place when Eland floated on the Aim market in September.