Jobs boost for Arnish as company clinches massive order 13/4/10
► Electricity giant buys stake in Arnish yard
The Arnish renewable energy manufacturing yard on Lewis is in line to get a jobs boost from its parent company’s £14 million expansion plan in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has announced a £6 million deal for BiFab to expand its output and secure up to 400 jobs across its yards including Stornoway.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said that BiFab has been offered £2 million of Regional Selective Assistance plus a £4 million commercial loan from Scottish Enterprise to help finance a new 12,000 square metre facility at Fife Energy Park.
Scottish and Southern Energy Plc (SSE) has also purchased a 15% stake in BiFab for £11 million. BiFab will now supply of a minimum of 50 jacket substructures per year, from around 2014, for a period of 10 to 12 years.
Traditionally involved in the supply of steel fabrications for the oil and gas industry, BiFab has successfully diversified into the offshore wind, wave and tidal power industry – a move which has seen its annual turnover grow from £20 million to £90 million in just four years.
It is now a market leader in the manufacture of jacket substructures for offshore wind turbines and the investment by both Scottish Enterprise and SSE will help the company to treble its annual production to 130 structures per year, becoming a major supplier to the wider industry in Scotland.
This means good news for the Arnish yard which builds components for the jackets.
For the past 12 months the 60-
Many more jobs and investment will result at Arnish if BiFab’s production trebles in four years’ time as predicted.
The onus is now to source work for the immediate future until this kicks in.
Energy Minister Jim Mather said: “BiFab is an excellent example of a proven company with expertise in deep water oil & gas exploration, diversifying into the offshore renewables sector.”
John Robertson Managing Director at BiFab stated: “We are currently world leaders in the design and supply of Jacket Substructures for the Offshore Wind sector and this investment will help our plans to create one of the best manufacturing facilities in Europe.
“The total investment for this project will be over £14 million and we plan to have the new factories fully operational by late 2011.
“The UK round three projects will not commence until 2014 -