The backers of the 320W Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon have called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to clear the way for the project to enter construction.
Chief executive Mark Shorrock said Energy Department BEIS has not yet approved a decommissioning plan, which the developers say is the last remaining permit that would allow work on the site and preserve consent that expires in eight days.
Shorrock said the project is ready to enter construction with a delivery alliance that includes engineering and construction giants Costain, Atkins, GE and Keltbray lined up.
“We can deliver jobs, apprenticeships and regional development as well as fighting climate change. We’ll be spending 84p in the £ here in the UK. We’ve always been an important project but I think now with Covid and economic green bounce back needed we are a critical one. This is the full meaning of value for money,” he said
“We are asking the Prime Minister, who expressed support for the lagoon when he was running for the Tory leadership, to recognise that this exactly the kind of project the country needs.
“He’s said he wants to see Swansea get going. He’s said Britain’s recovery is all about jobs, apprenticeships and long term investment and we have this wonderful project that’s on the cusp of being able to break ground at the end of the week with our global alliance partners.”
The £1.3bn project could support up to 2200 jobs, the developers argue.
“We can turn the tide on economic downturn with tidal. We hope the Prime Minister can get behind us,” added Shorrock.