The UK Government is set to begin negotiations with Japanese company Hitachi over the proposed 2.9GW Wylfa Newydd power station to be built on Anglesey in North Wales.
Image: Illustration of the proposed Wylfa Newydd power station. Photo: courtesy of Horizon Nuclear Power.
To support the project development, the government is also considering direct investment alongside Hitachi, and the Japanese Government agencies and other parties.
Horizon Nuclear Power, a subsidiary of Hitachi and the project developer, said in a statement: “The move confirms the development on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales as the next project in the UK’s nuclear new build program.”
The successful conclusion of the negotiations, however, will be subject to full government, regulatory and other approvals.
Capable of increasing low-carbon power supplies in the UK by powering up to five million homes, the Wylfa Newydd power station is expected to generate up to 4,000 jobs during construction and 850 permanent jobs during operations.
Horizon CEO Duncan Hawthorne said: “Today’s announcement is fantastic news for Anglesey, the nuclear industry, and Horizon, as well as a clear signal of the Government’s commitment to delivering a low carbon future for the UK.
“Building on last year’s regulatory acceptance of our tried and tested reactor technology, it shows real momentum behind the project which will bring huge benefits everywhere from Anglesey to Wales and the UK and Japan.
“Our focus now is to ensure we continue to deliver on our key project milestones as we move towards construction.”
Separately, Horizon Nuclear Power has submitted an application to the Planning Inspectorate for development consent order for the Wylfa Newydd power station.
The firm also submitted applications for four other key permits for the project including a Marine Licence, Operations Combustion permit, Operations Water Discharge permit and Construction Water Discharge permit from Natural Resources Wales.
Horizon Nuclear Power is planning to build at least 5,400MW of new nuclear power generation plant at Wylfa on the Isle of Anglesey and Oldbury-on-Severn in South Gloucestershire.