What We Do
Our remit from Welsh Government has a strong focus on developing the site of the former nuclear power station at Trawsfynydd, with the aim of giving the area and wider region a much needed socio-economic boost.
We’ve developed a Business Proposition outlining the suitability of Trawsfynydd to host small scale nuclear development. This is based on site characterisation work we undertook on land owned by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) with whom we have a Memorandum of Understanding. This strengthens the case for nuclear deployment and significant investment in the future, and we continue to explore private developer interest in taking a project forward.
Alongside this, we are supporting wider efforts to bring benefits to the area and increase the attractiveness of Trawsfynydd for future investment. We are supporting the Welsh Government’s Project ARTHUR feasibility work for a proposed medical radioisotopes facility at Traws, as well as helping to develop the business case for a science park style facility on, or near, the site to capitalise on opportunities from decommissioning as well as potential future projects.
Social value is integral to who we are and what we’re about; it is hard-wired into everything we do, culturally and operationally. We’ve embedded social value principles into our ways of working, and have set out a vision of what successful delivery of new nuclear would look like for places, people, and the economy – with Welsh language and culture a golden thread between each pillar.
Our underlying aim is to unlock opportunities for meaningful social value creation through influencing, partnering, supporting and investing in activities which can optimise multi-faceted benefits for Welsh communities, contribute positively towards a thriving region and make a positive difference to the social, economic, cultural and environnmental wellbeing of those who call Wales their home.
We hope that our approach will inspire and influence others within the nuclear sector and beyond to design and deliver projects, from start to finish, in a way which respects and promotes host communities’ needs and aspirations.
Read our Social Value Handbook here.
We can’t achieve our mission to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits from new nuclear without working collaboratively with others who also strive to create the conditions for a thriving North Wales.
We’re very proud of the positive relationships we’ve nurtured with stakeholders and industry – locally, regionally, nationally and across sectors. We’re playing a key role in stimulating action-focused conversations around how Wales can capitalise on the significant opportunities from new nuclear investment by bringing together individuals and organisations who are passionate about the future socio-economic wellbeing of our communities.
We also support community outreach activities, such as the EGNI schools programme run by M-SParc science park which educates and raises awareness among school children about nuclear and other clean energy sources, as well as the career options available to them locally within the low carbon sector.
With substantial investment in nuclear likely over the coming decades, there’s a huge opportunity for the Welsh economy, and North Wales is strongly positioned to drive economic growth from nuclear in Wales. Moreover, nuclear investment would significantly support the long-term vibrancy of our communities and improve their social, economic and environmental well-being for the future.
To promote this opportunity and encourage broad advocacy, we have published ‘North Wales: A Nuclear-Ready Region – Prospectus for Future Investment’ which consolidates our work to date and the efforts of other stakeholders across the nuclear sector and the region. The document demonstrates how Wales could capitalise on projected growth in the UK’s civil nuclear sector, makes the case for bringing new nuclear to North Wales, and showcases what the region has to offer.
We are continuing to fly the flag for new nuclear in Wales, working with others to strengthen and realise the prospects for nuclear investment, and stand ready to support our partners – including the Welsh and UK Governments – to deliver the UK nuclear programme.