Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has highlighted the rich potential for LIBERTY Steel’s Hartlepool operations to lead the UK energy transition by supplying critical new UK and international pipeline energy infrastructure.
Mayor Houchen’s visit to the plant underlined how LIBERTY Pipes Hartlepool’s specialist pipeline expertise enables them to win orders and support local and UK economic growth, create jobs, attract investment and strengthen energy security. The plant was last month selected to supply carbon capture linepipe to the Northern Endurance Partnership and Net Zero Teesside Power project in the East Coast Cluster.
With ambitions to lead the way in the UK’s energy transition, the Tees Valley has seen significant investment in recent years in offshore wind, sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen production and carbon capture, generating new opportunities for businesses in the region like LIBERTY.
LIBERTY Hartlepool supplies high-quality carbon steel linepipe materials across the energy industry spectrum. Last year the plant successfully completed a test programme to become one of just a handful of firms globally who can supply linepipe suitable for safe transportation and storage of hydrogen. The business is also supplying two major contracts from Subsea7 for gas development projects in the North Sea.
Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen said: “It’s clear to see that LIBERTY Pipes in Hartlepool will continue to thrive as they compete to supply new markets like carbon capture and hydrogen pipeline, building on the efforts we’re making to put our region at the centre of the clean energy industry.
“LIBERTY’s selection as a supplier for bp and Equinor’s Net Zero Teesside is great news for local jobs. The vast range of projects the LIBERTY team can supply as well as their location in the Teesside Freeport means they’re perfectly placed to win even more work that can create skilled new jobs here in Hartlepool.”
Jeffrey Kabel, LIBERTY Steel’s Chief Transformation Officer said: “We were delighted to welcome Mayor Houchen to LIBERTY’s Hartlepool Pipes plant, where our manufacturing expertise can help lead the energy transition, and drive significant benefits for the local, regional and national UK economy. Our ability to supply pipeline material across the energy system – both existing and new technologies – means we can be a major player in the fast-growing market for new energy infrastructure.”
