Forscot, the Scottish company that plans to build and operate a £1 billion integrated forest products plant at Invergordon in the north-east of Scotland, has welcomed the findings of an independent economic impact assessment, commissioned by Ross and Cromarty Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.
Ed Gillespie, chairman of Forscot said: ‘This study demonstrates the benefits that the Forscot development will bring to the local, Scottish and UK economy. As well as creating over 6,000 high value jobs, the operation will provide opportunities for a wide range of businesses and services.
‘We will also be able to increase the value of the renewable Scottish forestry resource, by offering growers competitive prices, and make a significant contribution to reducing the UK paper industry’s dependence on imported pulp.
‘The report will help us achieve our next objective of raising a further £5 million - £10 million, which will be used to secure the site, as well as apply for the necessary planning and environmental permits, so that we will be able to realise our vision.’
A copy of the independent economic impact assessment is available online at www.hie.co.uk
Note to editors:
Forscot is planning a £1 billion integrated pulp mill, paper mill and renewable energy plant, together with an independently owned and operated sawmill, at Invergordon in the north-east of Scotland. The operation will use Sitka spruce grown in Scotland and the north of England as its main raw material.
Sitka spruce, which is plentiful and sustainable, produces a white, high strength pulp ideal for high quality fine and magazine papers, as well as for adding strength to tissue products made from recycled fibre. The UK market for pulp is one of the largest in Europe, but the UK paper industry currently imports around 80 per cent of its virgin fibre and forest industry products represent the UK’s third largest import bill.
The company will add value to those parts of the trees that are not used by the existing sawmill industry. Sawmill chips from throughout Scotland, together with roundwood that is unsuitable for sawmilling, will be used to make pulp and paper. The non-usable wood from the saw mills, the surplus fibre from the harvesting and pulping operations, together with the non-cellulose part of the wood and other materials dissolved during the pulping process, will be burnt as biofuel to power the plant, making it self sufficient in energy needs.
The site at Invergordon was chosen mainly because of its good transport links by sea, rail and road.
Forscot has already carried out detailed design, engineering and logistics studies and has completed the first stages of an environmental impact assessment. The company is currently in discussion with potential trade partners to raise a further £5 million - £10 million, which will be used to secure the site, apply for the necessary planning and environmental permits and appoint a senior management team.
Construction of the plant is planned to start in 2006 and production in 2008.
Date: 19 October 2005
