Firm secures £2m contract
A Fife firm has won a £2 million contract to build a fuel processing plant on a former colliery site.
Realm Construction, which is part of the Lochgelly-based Purvis Group, will construct RWE npower renewables' storage and chipping plant on the former Bowhill Colliery site in Cardenden, which is due to be fully operational by June.
The Markinch Offsite Fuel Processing Facility (OFPF) will comprise a storage building and a concrete hard standing area which will provide a reserve supply of round logs, chipped virgin and recycled waste wood to Tullis Russell's Markinch biomass combined heat and power plant in the event of disruption to the normal fuel supply.
The Cardenden site will provide up to six local jobs in the operation and maintenance of the plant as well as creating an as yet undisclosed number of jobs indirectly through haulage contracts transporting wood to and from the facility.
Colin Ketchen, project manager for the OFPF, said: "We are delighted to have Realm Construction onboard to deliver this important project. The OFPF will ensure that in the event of disruptions to the normal fuel supply chain, the Markinch Biomass CHP plant will have a back up fuel reserve.
The CHP site is already bringing substantial economic benefits to the local community, providing employment for over 400 workers during the construction phase of the plant and 30 permanent jobs once operational. The plant will supply all Tullis Russell's steam and electricity requirements and help to secure 500 jobs at the company's Markinch papermill.
That this contract has gone to a local contractor is yet more positive news for the community in Fife."
Realm Construction managing director Jim Thomson said, "We have a track record of working in the local area which dates back over 20 years. It's satisfying that we are able to participate in a project which will bring benefits to this area now and for many generations to come."
