The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Official opening by first minister
Mill investment:
Thousands of jobs in the £1billion-a-year forestry industry have been secured for at least 25 years after a £95million expansion of the Norbord mill on the outskirts of Inverness.
The massive investment at the new plant – officially opened yesterday by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon – has nearly doubled the size of the wood panel-making site in Dalcross.
Mill bosses said the expansion would not only secure its own long-term future – and the jobs of 130 employees – but would also support the country’s forestry industry which employs around 25,000 people and adds £1bn a year to the country’s economy.
It is expected £37m a year extra will be pumped into Scotland’s economy as a result of the expansion, with £22m of that retained in the Highlands.
The workload has risen to such a level that the mill, now operating 24 hours a day, is handling 150 timber lorries a day – each carrying 25 tons of wood.
Retiring Norbord managing director Karl Morris said: “To be competitive, that wood has to be local so
“Demonstrates the vibrancy of the Scottish forestry sector”
a successful forestry sector in Scotland, in particular the Highlands, was crucial to our decision to expand.”
The plant is known as the cloud-making factory because of the continuous bellowing of smoke from its chimney.
The first minister said: “Norbord’s £95 million expansion of its Dalcross plant is one of the largest single inward investments made into Scotland. It will significantly increase capacity and demonstrates the vibrancy of the Scottish forestry sector.”
She said it was a boost to the forestry sector which the Scottish Government was supporting, adding: “It has received more than £12 million support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is expected to generate £37 million
Picture by Sandy McCook
gross value added of new economic activity for the Scottish economy each year, of which £22 million would be retained within the HIE area.”
Charlotte Wright, chief executive of HIE, said: “The expansion will bring economic and job creation opportunities for the area as well as boost the Scottish forestry sector.”