Smelter job fears follow in wake of fish farming cuts
MAJOR concern has been raised about hundreds of jobs after one of Lochaber’s biggest employers announced it was reviewing its future in the area.
Workers at the Lochaber smelter, Rio Tinto Alcan, which employs 170 people, were shocked to hear the company is launching a ‘strategic review of its assets at Lochaber’.
In another blow, Marine Harvest Scotland fish farmers revealed 100 jobs are to go. Its fish farm operations are situated across the Highlands, Argyll and the Western Isles.
Live fish are harvested at Mallaig and processed at the Blar Mhor processing plant in Fort William.
The Rio Tinto Alcan aluminium plant in Fort William is the last aluminium smelter in the UK and includes its own hydro- electric power stations in the town and at Kinlochleven.
Brian Murphy, councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan, worked at the plant for 21 years. He said: ‘It’s very worrying. I have spoken to several people who are very concerned about this. The site is a very important part of the local economy and is worth around £7- 8million.
‘There’s also the knock- on effect if it was to close. There’s probably double the number of jobs with contractors and suppliers and affects rail freight and road haulage.’
He added: ‘Everyone is hoping the strategic review will offer a positive way forward.’
In a memo to councillors and council leaders, Rio Tinto said: ‘We have advised our employees in the Lochaber business that in light of the current market prospects and economic environment, and as part of our on-going review of our businesses, Rio Tinto is launching a strategic review of its assets in Lochaber. This review is the start of a process, during which we will be talking to our employees, key stakeholders and partners.
‘The review will include the aluminium smelter, the hydroelectric power stations in Fort William and in Kinlochleven as well as estate lands in the Scottish Highlands. I want to emphasise that all options will be considered. Given the broad diversity of assets at Lochaber, the review will consider various scenarios to ensure all options are fully assessed, in keeping with Rio Tinto’s standard practice in conducting such reviews.’
It added: ‘ We recognise that this is a difficult time for our employees and we will keep our staff informed as we move forward. In the meantime, it is paramount that we remain focused on keeping our employees safe and that we keep delivering the same quality product.’
The Highland Council’s Lochaber area leader Councillor Thomas MacLennan expressed his concern and said the council had offered to assist in the review.
He added: ‘The smelter is the last remaining aluminium smelter in the UK and, as such, is of significant economic importance, not only to the West Highland area but far beyond.’
Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Business and Energy Minister Fergus Ewing have spoken with Rio Tinto.
The Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), is engaging with the company to understand the potential impacts of the announcement.