Unions claim new BiFab contract is ‘paltry return’

Deal at Burntisland yard will create employment for 200 people

A lifeline has been thrown to Fife’s mothballed Burntisland Fabrication (BiFab) yard as 200 jobs will be created through a new deal.

The contract will be to create eight jacket foundations for the Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG) wind farm in the Firth of Forth, to be carried out in BiFab’s Methil and Arnish yards.

Scottish Labour MSP and energy spokesman Lewis Macdonald described the deal as “good news for BiFab both in Fife and Arnish”.

He said: “This is exactly the kind of award we need to see for the renewable energy sector in Scotland, because we need to see employment and economic benefit from these projects going forward.”

But workers’ unions Unite and GMB called the contract a “paltry return” for the region, given the rest of the 53 jackets will be made in Indonesia.

Joint trade union secretaries Gary Smith and Pat Rafferty said the contract would be “a very small crumb of comfort to the communities in Methil and Burntisland”.

But the unions did concede the deal would create “some desperately needed jobs”.

BiFab’s Canadian owner DF Barnes said discussions were “heading in the right direction”.

A deal for the £2 billion NnG project was viewed as a lifeline for BiFab by unions, politicians and staff.

It is understood the deal for eight jackets has been farmed out to BiFab by Italian oil and gas contractor Saipem.

The multi-million-pound contract for the jacket fabrication contract was won by Saipem in May.

A spokesman for DF Barnes claimed the firm was “working flat-out” to secure additional work for its yards in Fife.

He added: “Although we are surprised to learn of media reports at this important stage in the process, we are cautiously optimistic of success.”

Saipem were asked for comment but did not respond.

A Scottish Government spokesman said it would “not be appropriate to comment on the specifics of the project” but added that the government “encourage all parties to work towards a positive outcome”.

He said: “All parties are currently working collaboratively in respect of the ongoing commercial discussions on the NnG project.”

PA. Workers watching construction of jacket foundations, eight of which will be built through the new deal: