North-east oil workers are being head-hunted to plunder one of the world’s deepest oceans for special rocks worth up to $1trillion.
Lockheed Martin UK – one of the world’s biggest defence and technology firms – needs subsea expertise found only in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to scoop up seabed stones packed full of valuable metals such as copper.
The firm’s chief executive, Stephen Ball, flew into Aberdeen to outline the plans, which are backed by David Cameron.
Westhill and Aberdeen have become a global centre of excellence for the subsea sector – and Mr Ball said his company was on the verge of creating “a whole new industry” for firms which employ tens of thousands.
“There is around $1trillion (£589billion) of this material on the first area which we have been given rights to,” Mr Ball said.
“We are looking for companies capable of building equipment and recovering materials and used to working in deep waters.”
The rocks were discovered in the 70s, but with metal in plentiful supply onsh-ore, the reserves were deemed uneconomic at the time.
