Scottish manufacturing firm Burntisland Fabrication (BiFab) is understood to have secured a multi-million pound deal to provide jackets for the Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm.
The contract, revealed to Energy Voice by two highly placed sources, is for eight of the project’s 53 jacket foundations.
It is hoped the deal will revive BiFab’s fortunes in Scotland and create 200 jobs at the firm’s Methil yard in Fife.
Scottish Labour MSP and energy spokesman Lewis Macdonald described the deal as “good news for BiFab both in Fife and Arnish”.
He said: “This is exactly the kind of award we need to see for the renewable energy sector in the north of Scotland, because we need to see employment and economic benefit from these projects going forward.”
But workers unions Unite and GMB called the contract a “paltry return” for the region.
Joint trade union secretaries Gary Smith and Pat Rafferty said the contract would be “a very small crumb of comfort to the communities in Methil and Burntisland”.
But the unions did concede the deal would create “some desperately needed jobs”.
BiFab’s Canadian owner DF Barnes said discussions were “heading in the right direction”.
A deal for the £2 billion NnG project was viewed as a lifeline for BiFab by unions, politicians and staff.
It is understood the deal for eight jackets has been farmed-out to BiFab by Italian oil and gas contractor Saipem.
The multi-million contract for the jacket fabrication contract was won by Saipem in May.
Construction of the rest of the project’s 53 turbine jackets is destined for the firm’s base in Indonesia.
A spokesman for DF Barnes claimed the firm was “working flat out” to secure additional work for its yards in Fife.
He added: “Although we are surprised to learn of media reports at this important stage in the process, we are cautiously optimistic of success.”
Saipem were asked for comment bit did not respond.
BiFab was rescued from the brink of administration by the Scottish Government in a £25m agreement before being purchased by DF Barnes last April, although hundreds of jobs were shed.
A Scottish Government spokesman said it would “not be appropriate to comment on the specifics of the project” but that the government “encourage all parties to work towards a positive outcome”.
He added: “All parties are currently working collaboratively in respect of the ongoing commercial discussions on the NnG project.”
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