Arabic version: بدء أعمال بناء محطة ولفا للطاقة النووية التي تعد بتوفير 8000 وظيفة

Work has begun on a new nuclear power station that will bring 8,000 new jobs, the UK government has announced. This initiative follows a £2.5bn partnership signed with Rolls-Royce last year.

According to BBC News, the project will create 3,000 jobs local to the Wylfa site and an additional 5,000 jobs nationally. Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association, highlighted that this venture will pave the way for the construction of three small modular reactors (SMRs) at the site, marking the UK’s first deployment of such technology.

These SMRs, manufactured in factory modules and assembled on-site, are anticipated to provide enough electricity to power the equivalent of around 3 million homes for more than 60 years. Greatrex described the project as a historic step for clean power, industrial growth, and skilled jobs in Wales, emphasizing Wylfa’s unique strengths for the nuclear sector.

The original Wylfa power station, built in the 1960s, ceased operations in 2015 after 44 years of generating electricity. Chris Cholerton, chief executive of Rolls-Royce SMR, expressed that this agreement exemplifies the UK government’s commitment to a new era of nuclear energy, bolstered by British technology.

Ed Miliband, the UK government Energy Secretary, labeled the development a major milestone for Britain’s energy security, asserting that the shift toward clean energy is essential for achieving energy independence from fossil fuels. This project is expected to bring significant investment to the area and secure the UK’s long-term supply of reliable, low-carbon power.