Ahead of the launch of Great British Nuclear (GBN) today to drive the rapid expansion of new nuclear power plants in the UK at an unprecedented scale and pace, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, Shadow Minister for Energy, and Virginia Crosbie MP, have visited Trawsfynydd to highlight the site’s incredible potential to help boost UK energy security.

As the project development company for the site, Cwmni Egino is putting together detailed proposals for the deployment of Small Modular Reactor technology at Trawsfynydd, with the aim of getting approval to build by the latter part of the decade.

Given the site’s heritage, studies have concluded that it is most suited for nuclear development. Following detailed assessments of a number of different options, two projects have been confirmed as having the greatest potential to deliver socio-economic benefits, including small scale nuclear reactors to generate low carbon energy.

Commenting after the visit, Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: “The UK needs four times as much clean power as we have now to hit Net Zero by 2050, and nuclear energy at Trawsfynydd is ideally placed to be at the heart of a massive nuclear revival. 

“Alongside exceptional access to grid capacity to supply power to around 2 million homes, Cwmni Egino are ideally placed to develop the site, and see it become host to over 400 high quality jobs locally.

“With the rich history of energy production amongst the mountains of Eryri, achieving cooperation between Cwmni Egnio, Great British Nuclear, and Welsh Government, would be a fantastic next chapter in the history of the area as a the Power Park of Wales and Great Britain.”

Speaking about how the rapid expansion of new nuclear power plants can be achieved in the UK, Virginia Crosbie said:

“As chair of the cross-party All-Party parliamentary Group for small modular reactors - coupled with my determination to bring new nuclear to Wylfa – this was a particularly interesting and exciting visit. 

“North Wales is full of huge opportunities to be part of delivering the UK nuclear agenda, especially now Great British Nuclear will drive through the new nuclear programme across the country. 

“As part of this, I will be hosting several events as part of nuclear week in Westminster in September to do my best to drive this forward and bring nuclear jobs and investment to Anglesey and the North Wales region.”