25/01/2002

Carrick firm secures power plant contract

A local engineering company is to create 25 new jobs after signing a contract to provide pipework for a new £200 million power plant.

Steam Plant Engineering secured the contract with Ballylumford-based Premier Power to aid in the construction of the new Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) which is being built alongside the existing power station. When operational, the site will provide around 50 per cent of the province’s electrical supply.

Steam Plant, who specialise in high pressure welding services and the manufacture complex pipe fabrications, have already benefited from previous work with the CCGT project.

Managing director John Matchett explained that the size and importance of the CCGT project had persuaded the company to relocate its workshop facilities from Carrickfergus to Templepatrick.

Mr Matchett said: “We still have a presence in Carrick, but the new building has enabled us to put in place a variety of new technologies which have strengthened out capabilities and made us even more competitive.”

The company has also invested in new technologies and has already expanded its workforce by 30 in anticipation of the increased level of output required by the new project. (CL)

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