Here, we’re creating many new jobs
After its recent purchase of the industrially-zoned area at Langsetvågen, Mo Industrial Park has been contacted by a number of prospective business tenants..
The sale to Mo Industrial Park (MIP) was approved by the Nesna Municipal Council in June. Now MIP is ready to develop the area, making improvements that will make it more suitable for new industry as well as for existing companies.
“As soon as the business community noticed what we are doing, we were contacted by companies interested in establishing operations there. Fortunately, Langsetvågen has lots of space. Anyone interested should give me a call, so we can incorporate their needs and wishes into our plans,” says Jan Gabor, Marketing Director of MIP.
“We expect the new activity at Langsetvågen to generate a lot of new jobs.”
Industrial development
“We decided to sell precisely because we wanted to see a positive industrial development here, and Mo Industrial Park had a proven track record of achieving just that. We have great expectations and hope to see many new jobs created,” say Mayor Hanne Davidson of Nesna.
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Hanne Davidsen, Mayor of Nesna Municipality, and Arve Ulriksen, CEO of Mo Industrial Park, sign the sales agreement making MIP the new owner of the Langsetvågen industrial area.[/caption]The new industrial chapter will build on the activity already established in the area. As a matter of fact, Westcon Helgeland celebrates its 30-year anniversary this year. The company started in Nesna, but as they grew they needed to look for a site where the increased noise of machinery and construction wouldn’t disturb their neighbours. The Municipality responded with the industrial zoning of Langsetvågen – and that’s where Westcon Helgeland has been the last 18 years.
Today Westcon has almost 50 employees at Langsetvågen, bringing in extra personnel as needed. Last summer, for instance, they contracted an additional 25 people to work on project for Nordasfalt.
Forced to turn down jobs
Westcon Helgeland’s primary focus is vessel repair, but they also produce large components for the offshore industry. Its 100-by-25 metre dry-dock is working at full capacity.
“We have been waiting many years for the opportunity to expand our operations. We’re working at full capacity and have been forced to turn down commissions,” says Arnt Skogsøy, the Managing Director and second-largest owner of Westcon Helgeland.
With its 50-percent share the largest owner is Westcon Yard, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Westcon Group, which is based at Ølen in Western Norway.
The company’s ambition is to contribute to petroleum extraction and exploration in the Barents Sea and in the Norwegian Sea. Especially important is the Johan Castberg Field, set to come on-stream in the fourth quarter of 2022, and expected to be productive for 30 years. This field alone will require investments totalling nok 49 billion, of which the industry of Northern Norway is likely to account for nok 1.7 billion.
“This will be one of the largest investments on the Norwegian continental shelf so far, and it should lead to many exciting opportunities. It will, of course, very much depend on Statoil’s decisions and their repercussions. If Statoil decides that increased industrial competency in Northern Norway is something that needs to nurtured, then I am very optimistic this will lead to significant wealth creation here,” says Skogsøy.
Sustainable management
In addition to its huge roofed dry-dock, Westcon Helgeland has 2300 m2 of indoor workshops, outdoor storage totalling 20,000 m2, an additional 500 m2 of indoor warehouses, and 400 m2 of pipeline workshops. They have 46 rooms for employee accommodation, and a cafeteria seating up to 80 people at a time. The 60-metre quay has a depth of 50 metres, sufficient to receive very large vessels. In addition, Westcon has special bollards for mooring drilling rigs.
A new hall is being built for production with Super-Duplex steel.
“The reinforced concrete, the steel risers and roof are in place. We’re now preparing to finish the walls, so the completed hall can be ready early this autumn. And plans for a new 140 x 35 metre dry-dock are already on the drawing board,” says Skogsøy.
At Langsetvågen, just as in Mo i Rana, Mo Industrial Park will be enabling a broad range of industrial activity. The first phase is to prepare the area and its infrastructure, which includes making sure that Westcon Helgeland has everything it needs to expand.
“We are well on the way with our planning and zoning work for the area, so that necessary work can be next year. There will be considerable infrastructure investments in water and power supply, blasting and preparation of the building lots, and new roads. We’ll be rigging up barracks for the construction crews, perhaps build a new dock, and establish new types of buildings in the future,” says Jan Gabor.
“The needs of other industries are also being considered, for instance aquaculture. And we’re examining the opportunities associated with the oil and gas explorations, for example using our dry-dock to scrap and recycle old steel structures. Mo is home to the cleanest steel producer in the world, so we can offer the most sustainable handling of steel structures in the industry.”
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Arve Ulriksen (left) and Jan Gabor of Mo Industripark have ambitious plans for developing a new industrial park in Nesna..[/caption]Investing over nok 50 million
Gabor estimates total investments in the area at between nok 50 and 100 million in the next couple of years. Seen in a longer-term perspective, say five to ten years, he believes the figure will reach nok 200 million.
“For almost three years now, we have been working on our plans for developing this industrial area. We have strong confidence in the Helgeland region and its prospects for continued industrial development. Years ago, we saw clear indications of the petroleum industry’s growing focus on northern waters, and we expect this to generate many jobs. We are also seeing impressive growth in the aquaculture sector. Hence we deemed the acquisition of industrial areas with good access to the sea to be of strategic importance,” says Gabor as he explains the rationale for MIP’s latest property purchase.
“Here at Langsetvågen, we wish to offer the industrial companies of Helgeland an attractive industrial area that will allow them to supplement their present activities,” concludes Gabor.
The planning is proceeding
“We see the establishment of MIP at Langsetvågen as very positive for Rana, with new companies generating multiplier effects. That’s what MIP achieved in its existing park, and we expect they will succeed here as well,” says Arnt Skogsøy.
“The area is well-situated for servicing maritime industries, there is plenty of space and good prospects for establishing a deep-water quay. MIP is an owner that has the necessary financial resources, experience, skills and contacts. We are quite confident that this project will succeed,” says mayor Hanne Davidsen.
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Wescon Helgeland’s dry-dock is working at full capacity. The company needs additional facilities to be able to take on more commissions. Photo: Westcon.no[/caption]A detailed plan has been submitted for public input; the feedback deadline is 6 September. The plans have been formulated jointly by Mo Industrial Park and Westcon Helgeland, with assistance from Multiconsult.
The plan calls for an expansion of the existing industrial area, to accommodate Westcon Helgeland’s need for expansion, but also to enable the establishment of additional industrial activity. The detailed plan comprises new industrial facilities, including warehouses, barracks for workers, new quay and port facilities for work on oil rigs and platforms, and designated waters for the anchorage of rigs and platforms.
