Locals have reacted cautiously to the news that US bio-technology giant Amgen has announced a two-year delay in the development of its €800m manufacturing plant in Cork.
Amgen said yesterday that the new plant at Carrigtwohill won't go into production until 2012. The company was due to open by 2010, employing some 1,100 people, many of them science graduates.
The Cork Chamber of Commerce said today it was disappointed at the delay, though the company has confirmed that the investment and the jobs will proceed.
Conor Healy, CEO, said every company was entitled to review its operations. He said Amgen was pursuing a very aggressive time line, and wpuld still be spending up to €100m on site development, so the Chamber was satisifed the company was still committed to the project.
Anthony Barry, chairman of the Carrigtwohill Community Council, says people are concerned, but they will have to accept Amgen's word that the plant and the jobs will come on stream as promised.
He said he thought the time line for the project was overly ambitious when it was first announced, and he is not surprised that the new date is 2012.
A spokesman for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Micheál Martin said today the Minister is confident that the project will go ahead and that the biotech company remains fully committed to it.
An Amgen spokeswoman said yesterday that following a global review of business needs, it has been decided to reschedule the opening of the bulk manufacturing facility.
She stressed the company remains committed to the project but the time lines will be staggered and extended to 'allow a more efficient product'.
Around 130 people are already employed by the company on site, and she said these people would be redeployed, where necessary.
It was announced in January 2006 that the company planned to build process development, bulk manufacture and fill and finish facilities at Carrigtwohill, producing products for the European market.
