A GLOBAL giant involved in Abu Dhabi's celebrated Formula One circuit has revealed it is in “confidential talks” on potential projects in Cumbria.

KBR, previously known as Kellogg Brown and Root, is an American engineering, defence and logistics specialist which was recently appointed project manager for the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset with EDF Energy.

Known for delivering programme management, operational support and facilities management to clients world-wide, KBR now has its sights firmly set on Cumbria.

Chris Lavery, North West regional director with KBR, said: “We believe our company is a perfect fit for Cumbria.

“The make-up of Cumbria’s business base and the challenge of ensuring that the county’s infrastructure and skill sets are resilient and appropriate to the opportunities facing Cumbria are why KBR sees the area as perfectly suited to our core strengths.”

Based in Houston, Texas, KBR runs its substantial European, African and Middle East business from Leatherhead, Surrey, where it employs about 3,000 people.

Mr Lavery added: “We have grown from an engineering business dominated by the oil and gas sector to a multi-faceted group working across defence, energy, infrastructure and logistics on every continent. We know Cumbria and our preferred business model is to work in partnership with major companies and the public sector.

“We are already in confidential talks locally on several potential projects. We feel very excited by the prospect of working here”.

The company is no stranger to Cumbria. In 2004 Centrica and Dong contracted KBR to create one of the first offshore windfarms in Britain with the company leading the engineering, design, procurement and installation of the Walney Wind Farm.

In November last year KBR announced a major extension of its work for the Ministry of Defence under the Allenby/Connaught programme - the largest infrastructure PFI contract ever issued by the MoD.

This commits KBR’s joint venture business Aspire Defence to building more than 130 new buildings over the next four years and providing facilities management services over the next 25 years covering catering, technical stores management, tailoring of uniforms, transport services and administrative support.

Internationally, KBR has worked on the Qatar Expressway Programme comprising more than 800km of new and upgraded roads and ancillary facilities and also the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix development on Yas Island since 2009.