A PETERHEAD-based oilfield services company has secured approval from HMRC for a new bonded warehouse area, the first and largest of its kind in the North-east.
Inspection, maintenance and repair (IRM) company, WellConnection IOS (part of WellConnection Group), built the area last year as part of a seven-acre expansion and have now been given permission to operate.
The customs warehouse area means dutiable steelwork can be stored on-site and subjected to IRM services without requiring payment of duty, until the goods are exported to new location.
Glynn Geddie, WellConnection IOS chief executive officer, said: “We are pleased to receive approval from HMRC to operate our bonded area, which is set to help ease the financial and logistical burden often faced in the import and export of goods. This is particularly important in the north east of Scotland due to the international nature of the oil and gas sector.
“The impact of the UK having left the EU on 31 January may also affect the customs process. With trade agreements still being negotiated, it’s unclear how that will impact the free movement of goods with EU countries and therefore the need for bonded areas could become even greater.
“We expect to see demand at our Peterhead site increase throughout 2020 and beyond.”
WellConnection IOS is also set to broaden its service offering at its UK site following an application to SEPA to offer a naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) cleaning and handling solution.
WellConnection Group (WCG) already has an approved handling, cleaning and storage facility which was established in 2002 in Tananger, Norway.
WCG is the preferred supplier of NORM related services to almost all major Norwegian continental operators and its experience includes cleaning of over 45,000 pipes, valves and other equipment and disposal of over 900 tonnes of NORM waste.
Rune Haddeland, WellConnection Group chief executive officer, said: “As an industry leader in Norway for NORM services, we’re excited to bring our track record and proven approach to the UK and expand the capability at our Peterhead site.
“IOS is fully integrated into the WellConnection Group following our acquisition of the business last year, and there are key synergies between our UK and Norwegian operations which we are already capitalising on. I’m pleased that we continue to grow and evolve as a business to fulfil our international ambitions.”
