GFG estates boss in push for community engagement

THE chief executive of the company overseeing more than 100,000 acres of estate lands in Lochaber says he is keen to start hearing back from more communities on how they see its raft of planned new hydro schemes benefiting them.

Duncan Mackison, chief executive of Jahama Highland Estates, the property arm of Lochaber smelter owners, GFG Alliance, was speaking after GFG unveiled plans last week to make a further £60 million investment over the next two years to boost hydro-power capacity in

Scotland after acquiring a Highland renewables firm.

The group announced its intentions after sealing its acquisition of Green Highland Renewables, which will now be known as SIMEC Green Highland Renewables (SIMEC GHR).

The deal triggers a programme to build or upgrade 12 hydro schemes in the Highlands by 2021, some of which will be on GFG’s 114,000 acres of estate lands across Lochaber.

Mr Mackison says the company is now keen to develop a model of community benefit for its hydro schemes in the same way it is doing for its £150 million wind farm project at Glenshero, near

Laggan.

SIMEC is currently consulting with communities in that area on its designs for a 164 MW wind farm, a project which will be Britain’s first large-scale subsidy-free wind farm.

‘What we want to do now is put it out there about community benefits and start getting into discussions with those communities,’ he told the Lochaber Times.

GFG is reviewing offering ownership opportunities to local communities as part of its broader community involvement.

Hydro power is integral to GFG’s strategy to expand its total UK green energy capacity for industry to one gigawatt over the next three years.

Mr Mackison added: ‘GHR will have 11 hydro schemes across the estate lands, with two of these up and running already and benefiting local communities.’

On the wider issue of transfer of land ownership to community bodies, Mr Mackison said any such land transaction would need to look at the sustainability of the land use in question.

‘Hydro schemes are a pretty good way for communities to benefit – so hydro is definitely in the mix and that will inform the debate in the future.’

He added that the company is already looking at several opportunities to offer long leases on sites in return for peppercorn rents to help support communitybased initiatives.

‘If it is expeditious, we will look at such long lease for peppercorn rent-type deals.

‘As for the transfer of ownership, we are still very much talking about that and how that could be done side by side with these other elements.

‘Ownership opportunities for communities are still definitely on the agenda.’

During the negotiations of SIMEC’s purchase of the Lochaber smelter in 2016, the community-driven East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust sought to take control of large portions of land on the smelter’s estate.

Although its bid to buy the estate was unsuccessful, the trust says it will continue to pursue its aim of achieving a significant land transaction in favour of the community.

In response to Mr Mackison’s call for community engagement, chairman of the East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust John Hutchison said: ‘We are still in discussions with GFG and we still have ambitions to own the land on behalf of the community.

‘Securing opportunities to generate electricity is essential to future revenue streams, so we will continue to engage with GFG.’

Hydro schemes are a pretty good way for communities to benefit Duncan Mackison Jahama Highland Estates