A COMPANY which specialises in protective coverings for cables is moving back into the oil and gas market by opening a new base in Scotland.

Tekmar Energy expects to create between 30 and 50 new jobs, mainly engineering roles, across the whole business including at an Aberdeen site which it plans to open within the next 12 months.

It expects to be generating £15 million in turnover from sales into oil and gas, particularly in subsea operations, by 2016.

Tekmar, founded in 1985, had historically been a supplier to the oil and gas industry before deciding to focus on contracts for offshore renewable energy.

Since then it has developed cable protection systems for connecting wind turbines.

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.

"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.

"The industry rightly demands the highest quality in delivery and safety standards and we have a strong history of meeting these requirements."

Tekmar, which has its headquarters in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, has installed 1200 cable protection systems in the past five years and has a further 1000 being designed or made.

It has been involved in 26 windfarms in Europe.

The systems are said to extend the length of time before cables need to be replaced and help to reduce the risk of damage.