Blow as jobs go at Numax
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A LACK of progress in the marine energy industry in Caithness has forced an engineering firm to mothball its local base.
That was claimed this week by Jim Mills, chairman of Numax Energy Services, who confirmed the company’s Bower operation has been scaled back.
Eleven people have lost their jobs at the local site, as the business reduced its number of employees from 15 to four.
Some work will continue at Bower as the company continues to carry out work relating to a gas maintenance contract but it is no longer in a position to take on new business.
Mr Mills told the Caithness Courier operating in the county at the moment was not profitable.
He is hopeful the situation will improve but has decided to focus on operations elsewhere for now.
“We hope that there will be more work available in the future as we intend to keep the building running, but opportunities within the energy industry in Caithness at present are dead,” he said.
“We built the premises at Bower specifically due to the proposed increase of investment in wave and energy technology in the area, but nothing seems to be happening.”
The company has decided to focus on its pipeline projects in Nigeria that are profitable until the marine energy sector improves in the area.
Mr Mills said: “The company declined to take on further work at the Bower site because it wasn’t profitable to carry it out. If you are bidding for work and you’re based further south the logistics are not as significant as being based in the North as transporting materials back and forth has been a cost to us.
“The facility at Bower was built specifically to capitalise on the wave energy industry where Caithness was supposed to be the starting point. We have tried to make it work but it hasn’t happened, but hopefully we can get another shot at it.”
Wick and Thurso Trades Council member John Crowden said Numax is not alone in local companies struggling to find work.
“If you speak to any of the contractors based in the area, they will tell you the same thing – that there is not a lot of work out there,” he said.
“Life is not bright and rosy at all and if they are not working outside the county they seem to be struggling.
“It is disappointing that Numax has shut its doors, as it seemed to be quite optimistic about its future in the area, but the situation has obviously changed.”
The news follows the announcement by Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd to spend £900 million on upgrading the power network in the North, while local MP John Thurso is to hold a meeting with the Marine Energy Programme Board in Caithness this summer expecting to hear plans to create Scotland’s first marine energy park at the Pentland Firth.
