CS Wind has been urged by union Unite and local politicians to seek orders for its Campbeltown turbine tower plant or allow others to take over the facility.
An open letter signed by factory shop stewards as well as councillors and an MP and MSP expresses concern that the company has not secured a single contract since making “almost every” employee at the plant redundant “despite the fact that it is the only one in the country”.
The signatories add that they have been informed by developers the company, headquartered in South Korea, has not even been willing to bid for contracts which the Machrihanish facility would have been suitable for.
The authors say they will campaign locally on the issue when COVID restrictions are lifted.
The letter was signed by Local MSP Michael Russell and Unite Regional Office Charlie McDonald as well as CS Wind’s senior shop stewards Kenny Cunningham and David McCallum, Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O’Hara, Unite regional secretary Pat Rafferty and the four councillors for the local area.
It has been copied to Scottish energy minister Paul Wheelhouse, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which is the ultimate owner of the site, and Argyll and Bute Council.
It calls for a discussion with the company of its plans and “intentions towards supplying the growing wind turbine market in Scotland”.
It said that predicted development onshore and offshore could create demand for 1500 or more towers over the next period.
The letter adds: “We believe that your company would be strongly positioned to bid for a significant proportion of those units and we are also informed that developers would like to place contracts with you and support a Scottish renewables manufacturing industry”.
“However, if you maintain your current stance and either refuse to bid or claim that you are unable to do so then developers will have to seek towers elsewhere, outside both Kintyre and Scotland”.
“Meanwhile your company will continue to occupy a prime site in an unproductive way, preventing any other potential manufacturer from utilising the facility for which you have had substantial support from Scottish Government agencies and leaving a skilled workforce unemployed or forced to move from the area”.
It urges company to “rapidly and permanently” vacate the factory if CS Wind does not intend to fulfil promises signatories say were made to the workforce when CS Wind took over in 2016.
Local MSP Michael Russell and Unite Regional Office Charlie McDonald issued a joint statement saying: “We are keen to see a vibrant, successful renewable industry in Scotland and CS Wind has the opportunity to be a vital part of that, providing high quality employment in Kintyre.”
“But the company must be active in seeking work and if it has decided not to participate it must also be honest about that and allow a different structure to emerge which will ensure that the skilled work force can contribute to local and national success.”
A spokesperson for Highlands and Islands Enterprise said it was in regular contact with the company over its plans for the site, adding: “They continue to inform us that they are seeking new contracts that will generate employment at the facility, although no new work has so far been secured”.
“We have measures in place to make sure plant and equipment remain on site so that any new contracts secured can be completed.
“In the meantime we continue to explore new opportunities for inward investment that will help create new jobs and strengthen community resilience in Kintyre.”
CS Wind could not be reached for comment.