It was “absolutely right” for John Swinney to ask Andy Burnham to reconsider the UK Government’s block on plans by a Chinese firm to build a wind turbine factory in Scotland, a Holyrood minister has said.
Ming Yang had proposed building the facility in Ardersier, near Inverness, with the potential for creating up to 1,500 jobs. But the plans were blocked by the Westminster Government over national security concerns about the Chinese firm.
First Minister's intervention
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney is said to have pressed the Prime Minister to reconsider the proposal, with The Scotsman reporting he raised the issue in his first meeting with Mr Burnham and also wrote to him about it.
Scotland’s energy minister Stephen Gethins described the veto on the proposed factory as a “massive blow”. He told BBC Radio Scotland’s Breakfast programme: “The First Minister is right to ask about this. This is 1,500 jobs in the north of Scotland. It’s also an area that is being transformed by that move towards offshore renewables, Scotland continuing to contribute.
National security concerns
“It’s an area which is, in general terms, important for security. Scotland is contributing to European energy security, which is a concern across Europe when you speak to leaders there.
“Also, let’s be blunt: China is investing in the energy sector and the ICT sector, and in fact Chinese investment across Europe has gone up over the past couple of years.
“Even in sensitive areas like information and communication technologies, energy presence in higher education, this will have a huge impact in terms of jobs, investment, but also us making that transition to renewables as well, which is well under way.
“This is a massive blow, the veto that’s come from the UK Government, and I think it’s absolutely right that the First Minister asked the question why.”
Highlighting he is someone who has been sanctioned by Russia, Mr Gethins said national security is of “paramount importance” and he does not take the issue lightly, but he added it is right to push back on the decision on Ming Yang.
“As the energy minister, we are – I am – right to push back on this,” he said. “I see the fantastic potential. I see the jobs that are being produced, and national security goes both ways.
“There’s an issue of national security in terms of our energy security, and Scotland’s got a massive role to play.”
He said he hopes the UK Government will reconsider or set out in very clear terms whether things have changed.
The UK Government and Ming Yang have been asked for comment.
