160 new jobs set for Argyll factory
A GROUND- BREAKING ceremony will take place today (July 7) to celebrate the investment of more than £27 million by CS Wind to upgrade its Machrihanish facility to be the only UK factory capable of producing offshore towers for the UK and European markets.
The investment is expected to create 160 new jobs at the factory.
The ceremony follows a civic reception in Campbeltown town hall last night, hosted by CS Wind Corporation’s chairman Gim Seong- gon.
WORK on the UK’s first offshore wind tower factory will officially start in Argyll today (July 7) following a ground-breaking ceremony attended by Scotland’s energy minister, Paul Wheelhouse MSP.
Mr Wheelhouse will join CS Wind Corporation chairman Seong- Gon Gim and Charles Hay, UK ambassador to the Republic of Korea.
CS Wind UK’s base in Campbeltown, which employs 175 people, is set for a £27million investment after an acquisition by South Korean manufacturer CS Wind Corporation in April. The company has already manufactured more than 6,000 towers worldwide.
It is expected that the developments will create 160 new jobs at the facility.
CS Wind’s investment will increase production volume at the existing onshore wind tower factory and allow for the fabrication of larger diameter towers for the offshore wind sector.
Young-Jae Ryu, managing director CS Wind UK , said: ‘This event marks the start of significant investment in the factory, which will ensure high quality, cost competitive towers for both on and offshore wind projects being built in the UK.
‘CS Wind UK’s investment is strong signal that UK manufacturers and suppliers have an important part to play in the development of offshore wind-farm projects, securing jobs and a long-term future for the local economies.’
Guy Mortimer, Vattenfall’s head of onshore wind development in the UK, said: ‘ The Scottish onshore wind sector has grown significantly and made an important economic contribution in Scotland thanks to continued Scottish Government support. We hope that the offshore wind sector will follow suit.
‘As a result major companies like CS Wind UK, employing nearly 200 local people, are making substantial investments in the Scottish economy.
‘ Vattenfall is developing a number of onshore wind farms in the UK and so we welcome this opportunity to support and co- operate with CS Wind UK and help it continue its Scottish economic success.’
A memorandum of understanding means that Vattenfall will give CS Wind UK the opportunity to tender for tower supply contracts on future Vattenfall onshore wind farm projects. Vattenfall has also committed to discuss further opportunities associated with its UK offshore wind projects.
Vattenfall has a number of onshore wind farms in development in the UK today. If constructed, its onshore wind farm development projects in Scotland alone would require in excess of 100 towers. Vattenfall is also developing the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre, off Aberdeen, with 11 turbines and is due to start the planning process on its 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard in the southern North Sea.