| The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP visited the BiFab operation at the Fife Energy Park in Methil and was briefed by managing director John Robertson on the company’s rise and prospects.
BiFab, or Burntisland Fabricators, has a 900-strong workforce, is currently working on a £60 million contract for 31 jacket sub-structures for a North Sea wind farm and is investing over £14 million to ensure it is well placed to take advantage of future developments.
The company has already secured an agreement with Scottish & Southern Energy to supply a minimum of 50 jacket substructures a year starting in 2014 for 10 to 12 years.
Mr Robertson told Mr Brown it was easy for companies in Scotland with offshore oil and gas experience to move into deep water jackets for wind turbines.
“We see it as a tremendous opportunity for us,” he said. “We will be a serious player.”
Praising the firm’s achievements, Mr Brown said, “You saw the possibility of moving into wind power before anyone else.”
The former PM spoke of the “constant struggle” since he was a youngster to find alternative employment to the pits, which at one time provided so much work in Fife.
He said the arrival of companies such as BiFab was vital and pointed out that Britain had now overtaken Denmark as the world’s biggest wind power developer.
“Britain has become the biggest for offshore wind power and Fife has proven itself to be one of the great centres for the future,” Mr Brown said. “BiFab has the potential to become one of Britain’s biggest companies and that is a tribute to the workforce.” |
