A NORTH-EAST steel company has secured contracts to build more than 290 miles of pipe in one of its biggest deals since taking over a plant.

Liberty Steel Hartlepool will be producing the pipes for both offshore and onshore energy infrastructure projects in the United States and Caspian Sea regions, it has announced.

The orders, which the company says are of of "significant value", will be fulfilled at Liberty’s longitudinally submerged arc welded linepipe (LSAW) mill, and mean the company will take on extra staff to complete them as soon as possible.

Martyn Curnow, commercial director for the company, said: “Once again Liberty Pipes Hartlepool has proven, despite some of the most challenging market conditions we have ever faced, that it has an ability to compete and secure prestigious project work on a global scale.

“We have been tracking some of these projects for many years and it is extremely pleasing that our determination and persistence have paid off.

"These orders provide a strong foundation on which our business can continue to build.”

Production has started and will continue for the next ten to12 months, providing the strongest backlog of orders the business has experienced in more than six years.

The company says it will work to expedite the contracts, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, and will be abiding to Government guidelines to ensure the health and safety of workers.

The company has not named its clients, but said one was the largest order it had had since being taken over by Liberty House Group in 2017.

The company said in a statement: "Additional resource has been added to the workforce to meet demanding client schedules, giving a boost to the local community in these uncertain times."

Fulfilling the orders – for 470 kilometres, or 290 miles, of carbon steel pipe, widely used for carrying oil and gas, will involve producing linepipe of sufficient total length to run from Hartlepool to London.

Andy Hill, managing director of Liberty Steel Hartlepool, said: “Our number one priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees and their families.

"To ensure this, in addition to our ongoing focus on health and safety, Liberty Pipes Hartlepool are working within the UK Government guidelines during the COVID-19 global pandemic as we seek to expedite these important contracts over coming months."

Hartlepool MP Mike Hill said: “This is fantastic news for Liberty Steel and for the town.

"These are very difficult times for everyone, including business, and to hear a good news story like this is both uplifting and inspirational.

"Liberty has gone from strength to strength since taking over the 42 and 84 inch Pipe Mills in Hartlepool and it is encouraging to know that it not only continues to be successful, but is also bringing much needed jobs into the area.”

The specialist pipe mill was bought from Tata Steel in 2017.

At the start of the year, Liberty, which has plants across the UK, announced it would be cutting 355 jobs in South Yorkshire and Wales in response to "challenging" market conditions.