Speyside distilleries complete £4m gas project

A £4 million project to reduce the carbon footprints of Speyside distilleries owned by Diageo, Chivas Brothers and Ian Macleod Distillers has reached completion.

Representatives from Diageo, Chivas Brothers, Ian Macleod Distillers and Fulcrum celebrate the pipeline’s installation

Completed one month ahead of schedule by utility infrastructure provider Fulcrum, the work has seen a 13-kilometre pipeline installed to link Scotland’s main gas network to the Tamdhu (Ian Macleod), Dalmunach (Chivas), Cardhu (Diageo) and Knockando (Diageo) distilleries in Speyside, giving the sites a ‘seasonal gas supply’.

The drinks groups claim the pipeline will reduce their carbon footprints by cutting their reliance on fuel oil and ending the need for delivery by road tankers during the summer months.

Diageo, Chivas and Ian Macleod have all shared the cost of the pipeline, which also allows residential properties to access a gas supply for the first time.

“We are delighted to have been able to partner with our Scotch whisky industry colleagues to invest in this gas pipeline,” said Keith Miller, Diageo distilling and maturation director.

“Scotch whisky distilling is a crucial sector for the Speyside economy and this is a significant investment in the infrastructure which underpins our business and an investment in the sustainability of our industry.”

This is the second significant infrastructure delivered by Fulcrum in Speyside, following the installation of a 16-mile pipeline connecting four other distilleries in 2014.

The delivery of both these Speyside connections have been supported by the work of a government-initiated gas taskforce, which is working to address the region and its industry’s power infrastructure requirements.

In December last year, trade body the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said Scotch producers had reduced landfill waste to just 2% in 2015 and confirmed the industry is “on course” to reach its “ambitious” environmental targets.