Fulcrum wins £3.95m distillery gas supply contract

The Sheffield-based firm has been awarded the £3.95m contract to install a 13km pipeline to link Scotland’s main gas network to the Tamdhu, Dalmunach, Cardhu and Knockando distilleries, which are located in Speyside.

The pipeline will deliver approximately 4,700 cubic metres of gas every hour.

The connection to the gas network, which was awarded by a partnership of three whisky companies that will share the cost of the pipeline, Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Ian MacLeod Distillers, will help reduce the distilleries’ carbon footprints by cutting their reliance on fuel oil and ending the need for its delivery by road tankers during the summer months.

It will enable the distilleries to receive a gas supply from 1st April until 30th September each year, when domestic usage is lower.

Scheduled to begin in August 2015, the project will be delivered by a dedicated team of Fulcrum project managers and engineers.

The award follows Fulcrum’s completion of a 16-mile pipeline connecting four other Speyside distilleries in 2014.

Fulcrum’s largest contract to date, the £7.6m project brought gas to Cragganmore, The Glenlivet, Tormore and Tomintoul distilleries on behalf of Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Angus Dundee. As a result, the distilleries have been able to switch to a less carbon-intensive fuel source.

Martin Donnachie, chief executive of Fulcrum, said: “We are very proud to continue our relationship with Scotland’s historic whisky industry and support its drive to achieve long-term environmental efficiencies.

“The project will also further strengthen Scotland’s gas infrastructure by bringing new connections to important businesses that are major local employers and make a significant contribution to the economy.”

Keith Miller, Diageo distilling and maturation director, said: “We are delighted to be investing in partnership with our Scotch Whisky industry colleagues to develop the gas infrastructure on Speyside.

“The new pipeline will improve the sustainability of our distilleries and it demonstrates again the contribution our industry makes to the local economy.”