Welsh Government bids for Hitachi nuclear site

The Welsh Government is in talks to buy the Horizon nuclear power plant site from Hitachi in a last-ditch effort to secure the future of the project. 

The Labour-led administration has approached Hitachi about buying the site – and keeping on staff – to safeguard it until a new developer can be found. The Japanese group scrapped plans to build a £20billion power station at Wylfa, on the island of Anglesey, last year. 

The Horizon project is due to close next month. 

Talks: Hitachi’s commitment to Horizon had been under question for some time after it wrote £2billion off its value in 2018

Hitachi’s commitment to Horizon had been under question for some time after it wrote £2billion off its value in 2018. 

One of the major obstacles for the Welsh Government has been the cost of the land, the Sunday Times reported. 

The UK has struggled to get nuclear projects off the ground. 

The only plant in construction is Hinkley Point C – though ministers may approve a power station at Sizewell in Suffolk.