The operators of Fort William’s aluminium smelter confirmed last night that they are in negotiations to sell the facility to a “preferred bidder.”
With more than 150 staff, the Rio Tinto-owned operation is one of the largest employers in the Lochaber area.
The smelter, located near Ben Nevis, is the company’s last surviving aluminium smelter in the UK.
It has operated for almost 90 years but the mining and metals group announced in January announced a strategic review of its operations.
It has now informed its Fort William staff that a sale is not automatic and that if a deal fell through, it would consider its options, including maintaining the status quo.
A spokesman for the Rio Tinto conglomerate said: “Following a thorough review of all options, we have today advised our employees that we have concluded that divestment provides the best potential for a long term and sustainable future for the operations, its employees and the development of economic activities around Fort William.”
He added: “We’re continuing discussions with a preferred bidder for a potential sale of the entire operation.”
The local community remains to be reassured about the long term future of the key employer.
Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Brian Murphy, who worked at the Alcan power station for 21 years, has followed the latest dramatic events closely.
Confirming that he was expecting an imminent announcement, he said: “Obviously, it’s a very important business for Fort William, Lochaber and the wider Highlands.
“It’s massively important for the British economy, so it’s encouraging to know that there’s somebody interested in buying the operation, possibly as a going concern.”
The smelter indirectly provides work for a further 400 people through supply chains.
It emerged last month (SEP) that more than 1,000 Highlanders had united to try to launch a community buy-out of the site.
In a matter of just a few weeks, almost one in 10 eligible Lochaber residents had signed up to try to take over the local assets.
East Lochaber and Laggan Community Trust was established to attempt to buy the 125,000-acre estate to safeguard local jobs.
It is not its intention to bid for the smelter but to work with partners who do have such an ambition.