Speaking at the event in Warrington, Minister Andrew
will outline how the UK Government is making real
progress on its Clean Growth Strategy, which sets out
plans to drive growth and continue decarbonising all
sectors of the UK economy through the 2020s.
Following a visit to Trawsfynydd nuclear power station
in Gwynedd, the Minister is also expected to highlight
the value of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) to generate
growth and create high value jobs across the UK.
After the speech the Minister will visit Rolls-Royce’s
Warrington site to hear more about the UK SMR programme
which supports the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy
to secure homegrown, low cost and low carbon energy.
The UK has enormous potential to become a world leader
in developing the next generation of nuclear
technologies; an already burgeoning industry that
contributed £6.4 billion to the UK economy in 2016.
UK Government Minister said:
As a naturally energy rich country, Wales’ landscape
and natural resources have meant that we have been at
the forefront of energy supply in the UK. Now we have
the potential to build on this expertise, exploiting
our resources to ensure Wales is at the forefront of
the transition to a low carbon economy.
The UK Government has outlined an ambitious Clean
Growth Strategy which demonstrates how the whole
country can benefit from low carbon opportunities.
The Industrial Strategy and the Clean Growth Grand
Challenge support these ambitions by better linking
up what we are doing in government with what we’d
like to see industry doing.
We recognise that the nuclear expertise in North
Wales has the potential to revolutionise the economy,
developing new opportunities for job creation. That’s
why the UK Government has already committed up to £56
million for advanced nuclear technologies.
As part of a two day visit to North Wales, Minister
Andrew will also meet local authority leaders from the
region on Wednesday to develop proposals for a North
Wales Growth Deal, where the energy sector is likely to
play an important role.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, said:
A Growth Deal in North Wales will transform the way
the region is governed, bringing powers to a local
level and using big ideas to unlock growth and better
connect towns and cities, both within Wales and over
the border.
“The landscape in North Wales lends itself perfectly
to being a key player in the UK’s low-carbon energy
future, and I encourage local leaders to consider its
potential when formulating proposals for a bespoke
deal that works for the whole of the region.
