The port of Port Talbot is in line to secure 拢80m in 海角视频 Government funding to support a planned 拢1bn investment to position it as a major 海角视频 hub for floating offshore windfarm assembly and manufacturing.
The port, owned by Associated British Ports (ABP) - which has also been designated as a freeport alongside the Port of Milford Haven under the Celtic Freeport banner - has been taken forward by the Westminster administration for due diligence under its Floating Offshore Wind Manufacturing Investment Scheme (FLOWMIS).
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Subject to final approval, the port will secure 拢80m, alongside the same amount for Port of Cromarty Firth in Scotland, later this year.
The port operator said its Future Port Talbot project would see the port transformed into a major hub for the manufacturing, assembly, and integration of floating offshore wind components for projects in the Celtic Sea, where the Crown Estate had launched a new licensing round for up to 4.5 gigawatt of renewable energy capacity, creating up to 5,300 new jobs.
APB said this represents a major growth opportunity for the 海角视频, with the prospect of creating a 鈥渨orld-class manufacturing and supply chain hub鈥 in Port Talbot, as well as providing opportunities for broader green energy and industrial activity, which will serve as a catalyst for wider economic regeneration in the South Wales industrial cluster.
FLOWIS funding will be for the provision for infrastructure needed for the integration and assembly of wind turbines. This could be the construction, replacement or upgrading of buildings and quays to accommodate large components such as tower and blades, as well as steel and concrete foundations and mooring cables required for floating offshore wind. It could also go towards the dredging of the seabed to make them deeper.
Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said; "鈥淔loating offshore wind is crucial to the 海角视频鈥檚 future energy plans and its potential development off the coast of South Wales is fantastic news as we look to create jobs and growth in this sector.
鈥淚t is also welcome news for the Port Talbot area where the 海角视频 Government is investing in Tata Steel鈥檚 transition to greener steelmaking. As well as ensuring thousands of steelmaking jobs will remain in Wales, we want to create even more opportunities for workers affected.
鈥淭he Celtic Freeport development promises to create 16,000 jobs and FLOWMIS moving a step closer shows we are backing South Wales to be at the forefront of the industries of the future.鈥
Henrik Pedersen, chief executive of Associated British Ports, said: 鈥淎BP is pleased that the 海角视频 Government is supporting the ambitious plan to transform the port of Port Talbot into a major hub for Floating Offshore Wind and green energy development. The FLOWMIS award, alongside significant ABP investment of more than 拢500m, will begin to unlock a projected 拢1bn of investment in Port Talbot and the surrounding area. This will develop a green economic hub supporting and creating nearly 10,000 jobs in South Wales and across the wider 海角视频 supply chain.鈥
鈥淭HE decision comes at a crucial time for Port Talbot and South Wales more broadly. The funding announced will help secure the region鈥檚 future as a hub of next-generation 海角视频 industry, providing thousands of jobs in the green economy right across the supply chain.鈥
