DETAILS of a mystery development project in Clydebank can finally be revealed months after funding was first announced.

Rothesay Dock is to get new investment and a dozen jobs as fly ash and other material is imported through the port.

The Scottish Government announced in December 2020 that £179,000 would be paid to “Cemineral Ltd - Project Supergrade Scotland Ltd” for a project on the Clyde.

Only in May did a West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) committee paper reveal that the plan was for Rothesay Dock in Clydebank.

But when the Post asked for additional information on the project, the council had no details of any planning applications - or even the exact location at Rothesay Dock for Cemineral.

The Scottish Government told the Post: “Cemineral is the largest independent supplier of cementitious materials in the UK” and operates from ports of Goole, Immingham and London.

But the company has no website, no social media presence and its registered address belongs to a law firm in the West Midlands.

The Post wrote to that registered address with a number of questions, and managing director Nick Lander replied last week from the company's Stafford office.

Cemineral will be mark their first entry into the Scottish market and fill a gap they have identified for fly ash.

The Scottish Government described it as a waste by-product from power plants which can make concrete stronger and more environmentally friendly.

Council bosses had to put their name on the application as private firms could not bid for funding themselves. But WDC confirmed they are offering no financial support themselves.

Mr Lander said ships will deliver an average of 5,000 tonnes each into the port, and they expected between 12 and 14 shipments in the first year.

Each day there would be seven or eight bulk tanker loads out of Cart Street opposite West College Scotland.

Mr Lander told the Post: “Our terminal is at Rothesay Dock, part of which for a long period was disused and we have reached an agreement on a long-term lease in conjunction with the local operator Clydebank Port Services Limited.

“Clydebank will be the only import facility for the material to be based in Scotland - we are looking to fill this gap in the market.

“The Clyde area is suitably located for efficient onward distribution of our materials.

“We intend to fund the investment from our internal business reserves. Our track record for investment is strong. For example we have invested so far in excess of £3million in our operations to date.

“Planning consent isnot required for our investment as is accepted under permitted development.

"We will invest in the existing building to extend and improve the building envelope, as well as install all the technical and mechanical equipment required to safely handle cementitious products on an industrial scale.”

According to Companies House, Cemineral had an average of seven employees in 2019 and cash in hand of £18,474.

Mr Lander said their next accounts will show a rapid growth in a sector worth about £1.5 billion.

He added: “We are really excited about the opportunity on the Clyde as we see an opportunity to support the modernisation of the Clyde area and create jobs in the process.

“Due to the timing of the investment - and managing of the pandemic - the award of the grant was helpful to us in deciding on going ahead with the project and choosing the Clyde as the location for us to service the Scottish market.

“Our existing operating locations have already benefitted from significant investment and the creation of jobs and as a result we are very confident we can create a similar operation on the Clyde.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Cemineral applied for funding to Clyde Mission in October 2020. As private companies cannot apply, the council was made aware and engaged with Cemineral in January 2021 to support their application.

“We have engaged with Cemineral on a regular basis as progress has been made on the project. This continues as we enter the final stages of expenditure for the project and its completion.

“No planning permission is required. There has been no financial support provided by the council to Cemineral.”

Damon Scott, chief executive of the  Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news, saying: “It is always great to hear of inward investment and funding that helps to grow businesses and create jobs in Dunbartonshire.

“This is excellent news for the Clydebank and the wider area and fits really well with the Clyde Mission ambitions alongside the development of the Scottish Marine Technology Park and the Exxon site near Bowling.

"All these developments will build on the regeneration along the Clydeside at Queens Quay with the state-of-the-art energy centre being the latest award-winning project to gain national recognition.”

Clydebank Port Services did not reply to a request for comment.