Efforts ongoing to save 400 Anglesey Aluminium jobs

Jun 24 2009

THE search for a new cut price electricity deal to save over 400 jobs at Anglesey Aluminium will continue up to the September 30 deadline.

Last week Anglesey Aluminium revealed plans for a £600m power plant which could create 600 construction jobs, plus 100 more to man the energy plant and keep the smelter open for the long term.

Bosses of the Holyhead smelter want to build two massive wood burning furnaces to secure the future of the metal smelter for the next 25 years, and create an extra 100 long term jobs from 2013.

The plans were shown to the public at Holyhead town hall, but the scheme could mean the smelter is mothballed for several years with just a skeleton workforce working on a remelt process as the plant is built.

All 540 workers have received risk of redundancy notices and next month a list of around 80 workers to be kept at the Penrhos site will be announced.

The loss of over 400 jobs could be recovered after 2013, but by then skilled workers might have left the area for other work.

Anglesey MP Albert Owen welcomed the plans but said he would continue to fight for an electricity deal: "I’m not giving up the ghost on a cut price electricity deal just yet.

"I feel the anxiety of the workers and know that the problems lie with external factors.

"Anglesey Aluminum’s parent company Rio Tinto has been in turmoil but I’m confident that Anglesey Aluminium and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority can come up with a deal.

"I’m happy to see these plans for a renewable plant, it shows commitment from the company and I feel it should have been done years ago."

Anglesey AM and Welsh Assembly Government, deputy first minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This new proposal is excellent news for Anglesey and if it is approved quickly will make an important contribution to the local economy at a very difficult time.

"Nevertheless, it is unlikely to be ready in time to help Anglesey Aluminium with its short term contract requirements and we must redouble our efforts to secure an energy contract which will allow the company to maintain full operation beyond September this year."

Holyhead Town Council discussed the proposal on Monday night and backed the scheme.

Holyhead Town Councillor, Cllr Jeff Evans, who worked at Anglesey Aluminium in the 1980s, said: "It’s a pity they didn’t build this 20 years ago as we wouldn’t have reached this situation."

Anglesey council leader Clive McGregor added: "This is potentially a huge scheme, which may in the longer term help safeguard Anglesey Aluminium's presence in Holyhead.

"However, any application will ultimately be considered by the UK Government."

Anglesey Aluminium managing director David Bloor said: "The planning application will be going to the Department of Energy who will be consulting with statutory bodies, including Anglesey County Council.

"Both a cut price energy deal and the biomass plant could co- exist, which is why we’re willing to discusses a deal right up to September 30."

Workers at the smelter welcome the proposal but fear it’s too late to save their jobs.

One said: "It’s unlikely I’m going to be one of the 80 keeping our jobs.I support this project but I might have been out of work for four years by the time it comes on line and there’s no guarantee I'd get my old job back."