Work begins on nuclear power station that promises 8,000 jobs
The UK government has announced the start of construction for a new nuclear power station expected to create 8,000 jobs. The project, located on Anglesey, was selected after a £2.5bn collaboration with Rolls-Royce was finalized last year. The company estimates the development will generate 3,000 local positions at the site and an additional 5,000 roles across the nation.
Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, highlighted the significance of the initiative as a pivotal moment for Wales. He noted that the site, Wylfa, possesses “unique strengths” and will serve as the foundation for the UK’s first small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors are designed to be produced in a factory as modular components before being installed on-site. Collectively, the three units could provide electricity for about three million homes for more than six decades.
“This is a historic step for clean power, industrial growth and skilled jobs in Wales,” Greatrex stated. “Wylfa is a very special site with unique strengths.”
Chris Cholerton, Rolls-Royce SMR chief executive, praised the agreement as a testament to the UK’s ability to advance nuclear energy with homegrown technology. He emphasized that the deal offers “certainty” to the SMR program, following an early works agreement last year that enabled site preparation in Czechia. The project remains pending a final investment decision, anticipated by the early 2030s, but officials hope construction will commence in the 2030s after overcoming regulatory challenges.
Wylfa, situated on the Anglesey coast, operated as a nuclear power station for 44 years, from 1971 to 2015. It was built in the 1960s and employed thousands during its operational phase. Decommissioning began after the last reactor was shut down in 2015, with replacement plans abandoned in 2021 before new proposals emerged in 2024.
“Our clean energy mission is the only route to getting off the rollercoaster of fossil fuels and take back control of our energy independence,” said Ed Miliband, the UK’s Energy Secretary. He described the project as a “major milestone” for national energy security.
