Swansea bay tidal lagoon “could still go ahead”

Swansea bay tidal lagoon “could still go ahead”

Welsh Government needs to show firm leadership to make it happen say Plaid

The Tidal Lagoon project in Swansea Bay could still go ahead but the Welsh Government needs to show its support, according to Plaid’s Swansea-based AM Dr Dai Lloyd.

The company behind the £1.3bn tidal lagoon project in Swansea has agreed a company voluntary agreement with its creditors to give it up to two years to find a way to deliver the project.

Today, Dr. Lloyd called on the Welsh Government to bring forward a statement to the National Assembly, outlining clearly what role it is going to play in helping to deliver the project.

The Welsh Government had previously stated it would be prepared to invest £200m earlier this year.

Speaking in the chamber today during business questions, Dr Dai Lloyd AM said,

“Hopes are still alive in Swansea that this project can get off the ground.

“In an event in the city last week, Tidal Lagoon Power’s Mark Shorrock stated that he wanted to supply electricity directly to organisations and homes in Swansea via private cables, something which he hopes will make the project commercially viable, without any support from the UK Government.

We also know that the Swansea Bay City Region has established a Taskforce into the Lagoon, and that discussions have taken place with Welsh public sector pension funds with regards to possible investment.

However, one thing that was noted during last week’s meeting was that since the decision by the UK Government in June not to back the scheme, the Welsh Government has not discussed with the company the £200m that it had previously stated it would be prepared to invest, earlier this year.

This project has the ability to provide a much needed economic boost to Swansea and South West Wales, and it is vitally important that with the UK Government having again neglected Wales, that the Welsh Government steps up to the mark.”

Responding to Dr Dai Lloyd AM’s question, Leader of the House Julie James AM confirmed that the “£200m was still on the table and that the Welsh Government was working alongside the taskforce” however refused to bring a statement on the development before the house.

Speaking after the business questions, Dr Dai Lloyd AM said,

“I am disappointed that the Welsh Government will not be providing a statement on potential development of the Swansea bay tidal lagoon project.

After the bitter rejection of the tidal lagoon earlier this year by Westminster, the Welsh Government have a responsibility to demonstrate firm leadership to show that they are serious about seeing the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon become a reality.”