Scottish trade unions and fabricator BiFab have criticised SSE and government for not doing enough to help domestic companies secure foundation fabrication work at the 1075MW Seagreen offshore wind farm in the outer Firth of Forth.
The developer today confirmed that all foundation fabrication deals have now been placed after EPCI contractor Seaway 7 selected the COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries yard in Zhuhai, China, to deliver a batch of suction-bucket jacket foundations.
Seaway 7 has also subcontracted UAE shipyard Lamprell and Chinese company Jutal Offshore Oil Services to supply foundations in contracts announced in recent weeks.
In a statement, BiFab-owner DF Barnes said that “despite our very best efforts” talks with the Seagreen project team were “unsuccessful”.
The company is “extremely disappointed” that “the developers have chosen to exclude Scottish yards”.
“Since acquiring BiFab we have been trying exceptionally hard to get people back to work in our yards. Instead SSE, in the face of what could be one of the worst recessions in modern history, has chosen to give all of the fabrication work for one of the largest offshore wind farm projects in the world to companies in China and UAE,” the company said.
“This is a missed opportunity for Scotland and a matter of deep regret to us and our partners.”
Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said the awards prove that Scottish companies “are no longer even getting scraps from the table.”
“We have a number of manufacturing yards more than capable of contributing to these multi-billion pound contracts including at BiFab and CS Wind in Campbeltown,” he said.
GMB Scotland organiser Hazel Nolan also expressed concern, suggesting the issue of local content is becoming increasingly contentious in Scotland.
“We would warn industry majors like SSE and the governments at Holyrood and Westminster that constant disappointment is now turning to growing anger – our communities dependent on offshore wind fabrication contracts are being totally failed, and so is the country,” she said.
Nolan said the bulk of fabrication contracts for recent Scottish offshore developments have gone abroad, despite green economic recovery rhetoric from industry and government.
“We won’t ever begin to tackle this unless we have an industrial strategy, a plan for jobs and prosperity, backed by real investment in our supply chains, so we can compete for and command the opportunities we need to confront the economic and employment crisis that’s facing us,” she said.
SSE Renewables told reNEWS the company and its parent SSE already deliver £8bn in economic value to Scotland each year but said it “wants to do more” for the local economy.
“Unfortunately, on this occasion, the gap between BiFab’s offering and that of competing fabricators was too significant to close.”
A spokesman added: “We wanted nothing more than to award work to a Scottish firm that would help set them up for future success.”
The developer said the industry and government need to “step up efforts” to build a UK supply chain that is both investable and globally competitive.
“SSE Renewables remains committed to working closely with the Scottish and UK Governments and other stakeholders to do so,” the spokesperson added.