A location in north east Wales is among the three final sites being considered by Rolls Royce for a nuclear reactor factory. The Gateway in Deeside has been shortlisted alongside the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) near Sunderland and the Teesworks site in Redcar.
The engineering giant will choose one site for a £200m heavy pressure vessels (HPV) factory that will produce components for 30 Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and is expected to create more than 200 jobs. The HPV factory is expected to be around 23,000 SqM in size and will make some of the largest and most complex parts for power stations capable of generating 470MW of clean electricity - enough to power a million homes.
A decision on the chosen site is expected in the new year following final evaluations and detailed assessments made against the requirements and criteria for the factory.
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Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive Tom Samson said: “I want to thank everyone involved in the selection process and offer my congratulations to the three that have made the final shortlist.
“This is part of the process to build the first of at least three factories that will manufacture components for a fleet of small modular reactors and will present an incredible opportunity for a region of the UK. Our power stations will be built in British factories situated in the north of England or Wales and will generate tens of thousands of long-term highly skilled jobs - accelerating regional economic growth.”
Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “To reach the shortlist and be considered as one of the final three is a great achievement, and I congratulate the team working on this. With Cwmni Egino in Trawsfynydd leading work to enable SMRs on the site and facilities such as the AMRC championing advance manufacturing, North Wales does provide the skills and expertise for such a facility.
“To be featured on this prestigious shortlist is testament to the skills we have in North Wales, and helps further highlight this.”
Minister for North Wales Lesley Griffiths said: “The production of SMRs has the potential to be a key contributor to the low carbon economy, and North Wales is already leading the way through Cwmni Egino. I congratulate all those involved in reaching the shortlist, and whatever the final outcome, this in itself shows the very real strengths of the region in this sector.”
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