The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

18 June 2012

Minister of State for Energy, Charles Hendry, will today (Monday, June 18th) announce a new £480,000 NDA funding package for the Anglesey Energy Island Programme (EIP) during a visit to the island. 

The Minister will also will tell Coleg Menai students and Wylfa power station staff that the nuclear industry has a positive future on Anglesey and within the UK, reaffirming  the UK Government's commitment to new build.   

The new NDA funding will enable the Isle of Anglesey County Council and its strategic partners to forge ahead with the programme and improve prosperity and quality of life on Anglesey and across North West Wales. 

Charles Hendry, Minister of State for Energy, said:  "With its rich history in the nuclear industry, a skilled workforce and a motivated and enthusiastic local community, Anglesey can help power the UK for decades to come. The new funding I am announcing today will enable the Council to invest in education, skills, and infrastructure, and boost the local economy." 

During his day-long visit to the Island, The Minister will address students at Coleg Menai's Energy Centre and staff at Wylfa power station. He will also meet officials from the Energy Island Programme, Horizon Nuclear Power, Magnox Ltd and EnergySolutions, Coleg Menai, Bangor University and other local stakeholders, as well as visiting Horizon's new site offices. 

Anglesey County Council Leader, Councillor Bryan Owen, said: "It's fitting that the Energy Minister should make his statement here on Anglesey as - in Wylfa - we have one of the best new nuclear build sites in Europe." 

"I'm also delighted to hear about the new NDA funding which will allow us to develop a number of key EIP work streams - including education and skills; inward investment and supply chain opportunities; and strategic Infrastructure to create lasting community benefits.   

NDA Director of Stakeholder Relations, Jon Phillips, added: "The Energy Island Programme has delivered excellent progress over the past three years and we are delighted to maintain our support with this latest grant, which we hope will make an important contribution to unlocking future economic activity and to building a sustainable future for Anglesey and the wider North West Wales region."   

The NDA, Magnox and EnergySolutions are partner organisations in the Energy Island Programme. Since 2005, the NDA has committed more than £5 million in socio-economic support in Anglesey and Meironnydd, including £1.5 million towards the construction of the Energy Centre at Coleg Menai in Llangefni. 

Coleg Menai is the further education college based in Anglesey and Gwynedd. In 2011, it opened a £6 million Energy Centre at its Llangefni campus,. equipped with industry-standard resources to enable the development of a highly skilled, specialised workforce, readily available to take advantage of developments in the low-carbon energy sector. 

The Anglesey Energy Island Programme is a collective initiative between public and private-sector stakeholders to put Anglesey at the forefront of energy research and development, production and servicing, bringing with it potentially huge economic rewards. The programme, led by the Isle of Anglesey County Council, acts as a vehicle for employment growth and development opportunities.