TRENTON – A South Korean manufacturing giant is on the verge of resurrecting the mothballed TrentonWorks plant.
Anna Sawinska, business development manager for Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., confirmed in an interview with The Canadian Press that the company plans to build components for wind turbines at the seven-hectare factory in Trenton.
Sawinska says talks are continuing with federal government officials and a final deal has not yet been signed.
But she says plans are being made to release details in Nova Scotia on March 5.
It would be “like manna from heaven” if the rumours of the sale is true, says Faus Johnson, executive director of the Pictou County Chamber of Commerce.
“From a chamber perspective, we’re cautiously optimistic that something is happening – we know that things are in the works,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I don’t think that even our local MLAs are tuned in to what’s happening – the chamber met with them recently – I think they’re keeping it close to their chests until all the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed, which is not uncommon when you’re dealing with business.”
As recently as Monday, Central Nova MP Peter MacKay has hinted that a deal was close to complete for the former railcar plant. All three levels of government have been working to find a buyer for the plant since parent company Oregon-based Greenbrier announced its closure in April 2007.
But Trenton Mayor Glen MacKinnon says he hasn’t heard that anything has been finalized yet.
“It’s great news if it’s true,” MacKinnon said Wednesday afternoon. “I’m extremely hopeful it is true and things will continue to move forward.”
Rumours have been circulating for quite some time that a Korean-based company would be purchasing the plant. Those rumours came to a fever pitch this week.
“I’ve heard all the rumours, although I’ve not heard any official word. You guys know what Peter (MacKay) said in his speech. We’re depending on the company who is buying the plant, on their timeline – but we’re expecting something soon. The date may change, because the company involved is coming from Korea.”
Earlier that day, in an interview with The News, MacKinnon had speculated on what reopening the TrentonWorks plant would mean to the town.
“What it means more than anything else is life. It’s traffic through the town. It’s young people who can take a course and then build their home and live in the town for years to come. That’s huge – people coming back to live and work and keep our schools going. It means an insurgence of life back into Trenton,” MacKinnon said.
Three sources with knowledge of the announcement say it could ultimately mean hundreds of jobs at the former railcar plant. One source said the plant could manufacture rotor blades and support stands for wind turbines.
“I think we’re closer than we’ve ever been to having that plant re-open,” MacKinnon added.
Sawinska said Daewoo was aware of the impact a potential deal would have in Pictou County.
“We want to contribute to the development of the region, we are looking forward to that,” she said from Seoul.
it good to hear the plant might reopen .i work in the trenton plant i wa 18 i think the men who worked there should be able to get there jobs back first and them hire the people they need