7/2/2006

Non-nuclear technologies are the way to safeguard the Anglesey economy, say Friends of the Earth Cymru,

As pressure mounts to extend the operation of the ageing Wylfa nuclear power station after 2010 to protect jobs on Anglesey, calls are being made to create new jobs in non-nuclear electricity generating technologies on the island.

This would help safeguard jobs at the power-hungry smelter at Anglesey Aluminium and create more jobs in maintenance and manufacture than a new highly automated nuclear power station would create, says Friends of the Earth Cymru.

The campaigners say that a combination of energy developments including marine current turbine devices off Anglesey's north coast, and a small combined heat and power (CHP) gas plant at Anglesey Aluminium would ensure security of supply and possibly relatively cheap electricity needed by the smelter. If marine turbine component manufacturing and maintenance facilities were created with Objective One aid and Assembly Government support then the long-term jobs created could readily surpass the jobs created in a new nuclear station.

Friends of the Earth Cymru campaigner Neil Crumpton said,

" Wylfa is likely to be closed down, and its 400 jobs lost, within ten years even if it does get an extension. So now is the time to develop new non-nuclear energy schemes and invest the last round of Objective One aid in developing a manufacturing and maintenance base on the island. This would be the best way to safeguard jobs at Anglesey Aluminium and create new jobs on the island.

" Even if a new nuclear programme were incentivised by Government a highly automated Wylfa B might only employ around 40 people and there are no guarantees that any cheap electricity deals would be cheaper than the alternatives. For example, a combination of marine current turbines off Anglesey's north coast, and a small on-site CHP gas plant at Anglesey Aluminium would provide security of supply to the smelter and plenty of jobs. We advise the public to be wary of anyone implying that nuclear electricity would be cheaper than the alternatives ."

And Liberal Democrat environ,ment spokesman said lack of an action plan was to blame for Wylfa woes.

Responding to reports that the closure of Wylfa power station in 2010 could mean the loss of over a 1,000 jobs, Mick Bates AM, environment spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats said:

" This Wylfa wake up call is only necessary because on this issue the Labour Assembly Government has been slumbering.

" There has been little, if any, forward planning. Wales is one of only three countries in the world that has a statutory commitment to sustainable development. That commitment is only worthwhile if government action and government planning takes account of sustainable development. The government has known for years that the possible closure of Wylfa would occur in 2010 - why hasn't there been an action plan deal with this?

"That action plan should have been based on real moves towards Wales and Anglesey being world-leaders on renewable energy. Sustainable development offers Wales an economic driver of huge potential. On Anglesey we already have a skilled workforce with great energy experience; this must be harnessed in achieving a richer, greener Wales.

"There is concern over the future of Anglesey Aluminium. And with good reason. They employ 540 people, which is vital to the economy of Ynys Mon. They get their electricity from Wylfa and are naturally concerned about their future when the station is closed. However, let us not forget that Wylfa has been closed before. When that happened Anglesey Aluminium received their power from the National Grid. In the long term they can generate energy from renewable resources around Anglesey. "