John Swinney urges review of blocked Chinese wind-turbine factory

First Minister John Swinney has asked Prime Minister Andy Burnham to revisit the UK Government’s decision to block a £1.5 billion wind-turbine factory proposed by Chinese manufacturer Ming Yang at Ardersier, near Inverness. The project, which would have been the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom, was halted on the basis of unspecified national-security concerns.

Swinney urges Burnham to rethink £1.5bn wind factory ban

The previous administration rejected Ming Yang’s plan citing national-security and cyber-security risks associated with the use of its turbines in offshore wind projects. Proponents argued the factory could create up to 1,500 direct jobs and potentially 8,000 additional jobs throughout the supply chain. Ming Yang has since approached the new government directly in an attempt to revive the scheme, while a government source indicated there are currently no plans to reverse the ban.

Swinney urges Burnham to rethink £1.5bn wind factory ban

• Energy Security Minister Michael Shanks described Swinney’s intervention as “political” and “against the country’s national security.”

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• GMB Scotland has called for the decision to be reviewed if the security concerns can be addressed.

Swinney urges Burnham to rethink £1.5bn wind factory ban

• “We fully respect the government's duty to protect national security, and have always been clear that we will meet the requirements the UK sets.” — Aman Wang, the company's UK chief executive

BBC News