A TROUBLED renewables manufacturer a third-owned by ministers seen as a key part of the future of Scotland’s wind farm revolution has said “no decision” has been taken to call in administrators. It comes as speculation has continued to mount over the collapse of struggling Burntisland Fabrications (BiFab) after the Scottish Government pulled its support. Ministers stand to lose up to £54.2m of taxpayers money which it has pumped into the firm in return for a stake in the company if it goes under. But it has still chosen to U-turn over a commitment to effectively underwrite a contract to have a part in the the £2 billion Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm project in the Firth of Forth to the tune of £30m. Scottish Government sources revealed that a re-evaluation came after BiFab in September failed to win any work on Scotland’s largest offshore wind farm, the multi-billion pound Seagreen project, located just a few miles from its yards in Burntisland and Methil in Fife. The government cited European rules against subsidies to commercial firms. The yards are currently operating on a skeleton 30 staff – with zero contracts in place at present but at its height employed hundreds. It has led to speculation that a call for administrators to move was inevitable.
Herald 1st Dec 2020 read more »
SNP deflects blame over BiFab scandal as promised renewable energy revolution gets off to a bad start – Murdo Fraser MSP. Today the Scottish Parliament will debate the future of BiFab, the fabrication company with yards in Fife and on Lewis.
Scotsman 1st Dec 2020 read more »
Scotland threw away ‘global leadership’ role in offshore wind, claim BiFab owners. The demise of the BiFab yard in Fife is down to a failure of government to ensure offshore turbines located off Scotland’s coast are built by home-grown firms, its Canadian owners have said.
Scotsman 1st Dec 2020 read more »
THE owner of BiFab was “shocked” and “incredibly disappointed” when Scottish Government ministers refused it further financial support, MSPs have been told. Canada-based DF Barnes bought the Scots business two years ago but said it was “not an investable company at the time” and it was understood the Scottish Government would be the “primary financiers”.
The National 2nd Dec 2020 read more »