China’s Dajin Heavy Industry and Zima Equity Investments have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an offshore wind foundations manufacturing facility at the Port of Gijón in Asturias, northern Spain, the partners said.
The proposed plant is intended to serve the European offshore wind market as well as other global regions, with the port also set to operate as a marshalling base for offshore wind projects.
Miquel Zorita, corporate development director at Zima, said the project would provide a significant economic boost to Asturias and reinforce the region’s role in Europe’s energy transition, adding that local subcontractors and suppliers are expected to be involved in the new plant’s supply chain.
“This new plant and marshalling port will constitute a strong economic impulse for Asturias and its growing importance for the European energy transition,” Zorita said.
Dajin business development manager Artur Pielech said the joint venture marked an important step in strengthening local European content for the company.
“This joint venture is an important step for development of local European content by Dajin. It will strengthen Dajin’s global supply chain of foundations and reflects our commitment to the European manufacturing ecosystem,” he said.
Pielech added that the facility could be expanded over time to cover the full range of offshore wind foundations, including both bottom-fixed and floating structures, enabling supply to shallow- and deep-water projects across Europe and potentially the US market in future.
Dajin said it is continuing to expand its fabrication capabilities, including production of XXXL monopiles and floating structures, as it seeks to increase its contribution to European local content in offshore wind supply chains.
