Smelter to create 2,000 jobs in west Highlands
‘Lifeline’ decision will see plant produce metal for car wheels
MORE than 2,000 jobs are set to be created in the west Highlands after the new owners of the UK’s last aluminium smelter announced plans to restart production.
Politicians have described the decision to hand a lifeline as “great news” for the local community in Fort William, with the Highlands and Islands also expected to benefit from new investment in the plant, which will make alloy wheels for cars.
The decision ends months of uncertainty for the 170 workers based at the plant after previous owner, mining firm Rio Tinto, sold it for £330 million to GFG Alliance.
GFG executive chairman Sanjeev Gupta and Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing travelled to the site in the shadow of Ben Nevis yesterday to confirm it would invest £120m in developing an advanced auto-components plant, which promises to generate a further 600 direct and indirect jobs.
It is claimed the major long-term investment by the firm is projected to eventually create a total of 1,000 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs and add £1 billion to the local economy.
Mr Ewing, who took part in a meeting to ensure the plans, which include housing, training, infrastructure and services for workers, are delivered, said: “This investment is great news for the whole local community.
He added: “With the first meeting of the Lochaber Delivery Group, and redevelopment work at the smelter now under way, an exciting new chapter in the history of the local area has now begun.
“The UK’s last remaining aluminium smelter will continue as a key component of Scotland’s industrial capability and a major source of employment in the Highlands and Islands, and the planned factory promises further expansion and opportunity for communities in Lochaber and beyond.”
Mr Gupta added he was “delighted” to report there had been excellent progress in their work with the Scottish Government and local enterprise agencies.
He added: “One of the reasons we invested in the Highlands was because people welcomed us here.
“That’s been reinforced by the positive response of the many agencies in the new Lochaber Delivery Group who showed today that they are eager to play their part in delivering the goal of a clean, competitive and sustainable manufacturing sector in the Highlands.”
GFG offshoots Liberty British Aluminium and SIMEC Lochaber Power are the firms behind the plans.
Two large hydroelectric schemes, one at Kinochleven, will power the smelter.
SIMEC’s new £10m bio-diesel power plants at Fort William were yesterday turned on, creating Britain’s first metal-producing facility powered entirely by renewable green energy.
It means an end to aluminium production having to be reduced to conserve water during prolonged dry periods.
The aluminium industry, a vital part of the Highland economy for more than 100 years.
It employed many thousands in its heyday.
‘‘ One of the reasons we invested in the Highlands was because people welcomed us. That’s been reinforced by the response of many agencies