THE Welsh Government intends to work with partners to deliver a sustainable future for Wylfa nuclear site on Anglesey.

This follows the news the Hitachi subsidiary Horizon Nuclear Power has decided not to continue building a nuclear power station on the site.

Minister for Economy and North Wales Ken Skates said: “The news from Hitachi today is deeply disappointing.

“There has been a tremendous effort by Horizon Nuclear Power, Ynys Mon Council, the North Wales region and all our partners to bring this important project forward. Now is the time to continue with this strong partnership and build upon those efforts.

“We must not lose sight that Wylfa remains one the best sites in the UK for new nuclear development.

“We will work with our partners to explore all other options, including internationally with key allies, to deliver a sustainable future for the site.

“This must build on the skills and the supply chain capability we have in the region and across Wales. It places us in a robust position to benefit from existing and future opportunities within the nuclear sector. In North Wales, these include cutting edge decommissioning and future technologies’ deployment at the Trawsfynydd site and advanced research and development derived from investment in the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University and the new AMRC Cymru facility on Deeside.

“We will also continue to press the UK Government to make their commitment clear on Wylfa. We must all work together to realise the potential this site has to transform the economy of North West Wales and significantly contribute towards net zero carbon.”

Horizon Nuclear Power has confirmed it will be ceasing its activities to develop projects at Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey and at Oldbury on Severn in South Gloucestershire.

Activity was suspended in January 2019 due to the absence of a clear funding package for the lead Wylfa Newydd project. Horizon maintained the capability to remobilise in the event that a new financing model was re-established. This included over 10 years of stored project data and knowledge, applications for permits and licences and a small core team of staff and contractors.

Horizon will now take steps for the orderly closing down of all its current development activities, but will keep the lines of communication open with Government and other key stakeholders regarding future options at both our sites.

Chief Executive Duncan Hawthorne said: “I understand this announcement will be disappointing for our many supporters who had hoped to see our project through to completion and I would personally like to thank you for your support throughout our time on this project.

“In particular I would like to thank our lead host community of Anglesey in Wales, represented by the Isle of Anglesey County Council and Welsh Government.

“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the many international, UK and Welsh stakeholders who have supported us in the development of our projects.

“Nuclear power has a critical role to play in helping tackle our energy needs, meeting our climate change targets and levelling up the economy through green growth and job creation.

“Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey and Oldbury on Severn are highly desirable sites for new nuclear build. We will do our utmost to facilitate the prospects for development which will bring the major local, national and environmental benefits that nuclear can uniquely deliver as we push to transition to a net zero carbon economy by 2050.”