Scottish safety engineering specialist, Nucore Group, has secured a £20 million, 10-year Master Services Agreement with a major international energy operator for HVAC, refrigeration, and fire safety systems at a gas processing facility in West Africa.
The contract marks a significant milestone in Nucore Group’s international expansion strategy and represents the firm’s first permanent operational presence in West Africa’s rapidly growing energy sector.
The gas processing facility, built in the mid-2000s, requires comprehensive refurbishment of 3,500 HVAC and refrigeration assets. Following a detailed two-month assessment by Nucore Group’s survey team, the company has developed a prioritised refurbishment programme spanning short, medium, and long-term requirements.
The project leverages Nucore Group’s specialised capabilities in reverse engineering and modular equipment design, essential for retrofitting ageing infrastructure in space-constrained environments. All replacement equipment will be custom-manufactured at the company’s Aberdeen facility.
Mike Bryant, CEO of Nucore Group, said: “This contract represents more than just business growth for Nucore Group – it showcases the global competitiveness of Scottish engineering expertise. We’re taking skills honed in the challenging North Sea environment and applying them 6,000 kilometres away in the tropical rainforest conditions of West Africa. It’s a testament to the adaptability and excellence of Scottish engineering that we can seamlessly transition between these demanding environments while maintaining the highest safety and performance standards.”
“At Nucore Group, we’re demonstrating how Scottish companies can play a vital role in supporting global energy infrastructure while creating high-value jobs and opportunities in Scotland,” added Bryant. “As a proud Scottish exporter, we’re committed to driving international growth while maintaining our strong engineering heritage.”
The West Africa operation joins Nucore Group’s existing international presence in Guyana, South America and strategic partnerships in Qatar and Western Australia. The company is also actively establishing operations in Angola to serve existing clients in the region and support significant investments in energy infrastructure development in pursuit of Africa’s objective for energy security.
This expanded African presence forms part of the company’s broader international expansion strategy while maintaining its Aberdeen headquarters.
Alongside the major contract win, the company has announced three key appointments to support its continued growth and expansion. Jason Nisbet joins as Commercial Director, bringing over 25 years of fire and security industry expertise with a proven track record of driving sales excellence across multiple sectors.
“I’m excited to join Nucore Group at such a pivotal time as the business expands its global reach and integrated capabilities,” said Nisbet. “My focus will be on leveraging our world-class engineering capabilities to connect with clients who need proven, safety-critical solutions. With our end-to-end capabilities from design through to manufacture and ongoing service, I see tremendous opportunities to deliver even greater value across the energy, renewables, and industrial sectors.”
The company has also appointed Ian Parker as Operations Manager, bringing comprehensive management experience across oil and gas, manufacturing and education sectors. Parker has held senior roles with major clients including Halliburton, Wood, Robert Gordon University, and Northeast Scotland College, and has international project experience with global companies including Michelin, NCR and Bonar Long.
Scott Douglas joins as Design Engineer, bringing over 10 years in the fire and security industry with an electrical and hazardous area background. Douglas has extensive experience in installations, inspection & testing, and managing projects and service contracts across various electrical disciplines, building strong client and contractor relationships that strengthen Nucore Group’s design capabilities.
