Secretary of State for Wales visits Port of Milford Haven following successful Celtic Freeport bid

Secretary of State for Wales, Rt. Hon David TC Davies MP, visited the Port of Milford Haven recently, as the UK Government launched its new Energy Security Plan and following the announcement that the Celtic Freeport bid had been successful.

The Celtic Freeport bid, encompassing the ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot, was chosen by the Welsh and UK governments, along with Anglesey Freeport, as Wales’ first Freeports, helping to create tens of thousands of new jobs in the green industries of the future.

The Celtic Freeport will generate over 16,000 new, green jobs and up to £5.5 billion of new investment. The transformational bid spans clean energy developments, in particular floating offshore wind and sustainable fuels, as well as new training and innovation facilities, heavy engineering and the steel industry across south-west Wales.

The Welsh Secretary spent time with representatives from the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire County Council and organisations from around the Haven where he was able to see first-hand the critical role the Port of Milford Haven plays, and will continue to play, in UK energy resilience and security.

He also had a chance to see the rapidly progressing developments already underway at Pembroke Port to transform the site into a renewable energy hub bringing high skilled jobs to the region. The visit ended with a trip to Mainstay Marine Solutions to witness the extent of its large-scale engineering capabilities which will undoubtedly play a significant role in this green industrial revolution.

Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, said:

“The UK Government has long been committed to creating a freeport in Wales so it was fantastic to announce the creation of two and then to visit Milford Haven to hear about the plans the Celtic Freeport has for local jobs, investment and the development of green industries.

“The Freeports programme is already benefitting businesses and levelling up communities elsewhere in the UK and I look forward to seeing greater prosperity delivered for Wales as a result of Celtic Freeport’s successful bid.”

Chief Executive at the Port of Milford Haven, Tom Sawyer, hosted the visit. He commented:

“This is a milestone moment for everyone involved in the Celtic Freeport bid and I’m delighted that the Secretary of State for Wales chose to come and see the work already underway at Pembroke Port and take in the scale of our operations here.

“It’s clear the UK and Welsh governments appreciate the magnitude of opportunity that ourselves and Port Talbot have to offer to create a path for a green and more secure energy future and we look forward to working with our partners to deliver the objectives set out in our Celtic Freeport bid”.

The Celtic Freeport consortium comprises the Port of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire County Council, Associated British Ports (ABP) and Neath Port Talbot Council.