Plaid Cymru urges Westminster government to support Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon

Plaid Cymru has written to Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury urging support for the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

Business leaders, including Liz Maher, president of the South and Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce have called on the new minority Conservative administration to commit to the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon.

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs for Plaid Cymru Simon Thomas said: 

“I’m urging the new Westminster Government to back the recommendations of the Government commissioned review by Charles Hendry into both the Swansea tidal lagoon and the potential of tidal power more widely. Hendry noted that this proposal should be given approval as a “pathfinder” project as a matter of urgency.

“This project can unleash, quickly, a level of private capital investment rarely seen in Wales. It will see new industrial facilities built and new life breathed into Welsh industry large and small. 

“The Conservative Government has decided to end austerity in Northern Ireland because of its deal with the DUP. It is only fair that Wales gets investment as well.

 “The project will draw our students towards the STEM disciplines and offer them a credible prospect of deploying their skills in the country of their birth.  It will attract attention for Wales and the UK on an international stage as a global leader in this renewable technology, and contribute to our climate-change objectives. 

“It will create opportunity for new ventures in leisure, tourism and associated maritime activities by attracting visitors in potentially very large numbers. Above all of this, it will contribute hugely to the image of Wales as a place where exciting and transformational projects can be imagined and delivered: a dynamic Wales looking to the future.”

In a debate in the National Assembly on the 14th February a motion welcoming the Hendry Report and supporting the case for developing a tidal lagoon energy industry in the UK was passed with no dissent.

Mid and West AM Simon Thomas added: “The lagoon has had strong support in Wales and I have discussed with several companies like Mainstay Marine Solutions in Pembroke Dock in Pembrokeshire and firms in Carmarthenshire who stand ready to bid for the procurement that will follow.

“The proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon can also help deliver the central vision of the Swansea Bay City Deal.  The supply chain opportunity is significant. I know that a supply chain event in Llanelli was oversubscribed. Local businesses are well placed to win contracts. In turn this would give them a foot in the door of a new global industry at a time when other markets are in decline.

“West Wales needs and deserves a strong signal of support from the Tory Government. A bold decision to support the tidal lagoon would be a statement of commitment to the communities I represent. This is particularly the case when one part of the state – Northern Ireland will get over £1billion for supporting the Conservative government.

“I’m urging the Conservative Government in Westminster to engage directly with Tidal Lagoon (Swansea Bay) on matters such as strike price and infrastructure investment as a pathfinder project for this exciting new technology.”