North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood questioned the Minister for Economy and Transport Ken Skates, yesterday over Wylfa Newydd’s position given the recent uncertainty regarding the plant.
Speaking in the Assembly Chamber, Mr Isherwood said:
“We know that the Holyhead infrastructure Prospectus says that ‘the Wylfa Newydd Nuclear New Build, along with other proposed developments on Anglesey, presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the economy and communities of the Island’. As you rightly said yesterday, this project has ‘potentially significant economic benefits to Anglesey, North Wales and the UK’. We know that the subsidiary of Hitachi, Horizon, has been investing heavily in apprenticeships and training centres, including at Llandrillo Menai college group and at Bangor University, and we know that the (North Wales) Growth Deal has been based on the premise that the Wylfa Newydd project would go ahead. Dr Jones, at Bangor University, said yesterday that he believed Hitachi is more likely to press the pause button than scrap the project because of the £2 billion investment already made. But I'm also advised that one of the factors valid to the cost considerations that have led to this threatened decision was the Welsh Government decision to call in plans to prepare the site last month to build Wylfa Newydd, when Horizon said it disagreed with the Welsh Government's reasoning.
“Given your Statements yesterday and today that you've spoken with the Minister for Energy and Industry, Richard Harrington MP, in Westminster, and that your officials are in close dialogue with Horizon Nuclear Power, what currently is your understanding of the position regarding the likely outcome and its impact on things like those apprenticeship placements and the possibility that this might just be a pause rather than a devastating announcement of the project ending?”
In his response, the Minister said “it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for North Wales, for Wales and for the UK. The Hitachi technology is recognised as being the most reliable technology that can be deployed, and it's important that the UK Government does all it can to secure that investment and the Hitachi technology for Anglesey.”
He claimed “calling in the planning application was not a significant issue whatsoever” and said there “has been a lack of and a loss of interest by the UK Government, both at official level and at a ministerial level”. Although UK Prime Minister Theresa May met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in London last week, Mr Skates added “And that was highlighted just last week when the Prime Minister was in Japan and failed to raise this vitally important project whilst on a visit there”.
Mr Isherwood added: “Contrary to the Minister’s unhelpful claims, Prime Minister Theresa May told the Commons yesterday “We have been working with Hitachi and the Government of Japan, and yes, I did raise the issue of the Wylfa site with the Prime Minister of Japan last week”. The Secretary of State for Wales also met the Japanese Prime Minister last week at No. 10, having undertaken extensive engagement with Japanese stakeholders, including visits to Japan to meet Hitachi and meetings with the Japanese Ambassador. The UK Government stands behind the project and will work with Hitachi and other partners to find a way forward”.
Hitachi has announced today that it will suspend work on a £20bn nuclear plant in the UK because of rising construction costs.
