Wind turbine maker vows to stay despite ‘shut up shop’ fears
One of Britain’s only wind turbine manufacturers has insisted it is committed to staying in Scotland after fears the factory had “shut up shop” with workers laid off.
South Korean firm CS Wind UK, which has an on shore and offshore wind turbine factory in Machrihanish near Camp belt own, Argyll and Bute, asked for talks with the Scottish Government after an attempt to remove plant equipment was blocked.
Yun-cheol Kim, the company’s executive director, called for negotiations as the company, which has received £3 million in grants, “expressed doubts as to the sustainability of its operations” and laid off three quarters of its workers.
Scottish Government agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) won a court battle against CS Wind in December last year to ensure the plant was capable of continuing to operate and to “protect its investment”.
Unions have claimed the factory is effectively shut and fear the firm has decided to move on because the public subsidies have stopped. But the firm has denied those suggestions and reiterated it has “no intention to move out now”.
Mr Kim said: “I understand the situation of the local workforce, so the local community may hope CS Wind vacates and some other manufacturer comes in.
“But CS Wind doesn’t have any intention to move out now.
“If the local community, government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise hope that CS Wind moves out, we need to discuss it all together. CS Wind hopes to keep business in Scotland.
“Unfortunately, we didn’ t get the projects yet. CS Wind is working on getting projects actively. We are strongly looking for a long-term pipeline.
“We have to make a clear agreement to reach a final conclusion from my perspective.”
Union leaders are concerned CS Wind will move operations to other countries even if more government subsidies are provided.
Charlie McDonald, Unite regional officer for CS Wind, said: “Public money has gone to Korea.
“Basically, CS Wind has shut up shop in Campbeltown and is still seeking orders, but I believe it wants to fabricate in Vietnam or China.
“It has a history of taking government subsidies then moving on. The workforce and community of Campbeltown deserve better.”
CS Wind used to have 134 staff at its Scottish base, but workers said it has been overseen by just six people as many have lost their jobs. The company recorded pre-tax profits of £7.1 min 2018.