PLANS for a carbon capture plant to establish the UK’s first net zero cement works in North Wales could create over 50 new jobs.

Hanson UK's £400million Carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at its Padeswood plans will capture carbon dioxide produced during cement manufacture before it enters the atmosphere, transporting it by pipeline, and storing it safely under the seabed.

It intends to capture 800,000 tonnes of CO2 a year, the equivalent of taking 320,000 cars off the road.

The scheme will protect 222 jobs, and create 54 new, full-time highly-skilled roles, as well as 350 additional jobs during construction.

The existing plant currently delivers Gross Value Added (GVA) of £17.4m per year, which will increase with the project - which will reduce embodied carbon in environmental projects around the UK, including wind farms, rail and roads.

Over the coming weeks, Hanson Comment will run a series of consultation events to give the local community a chance to share their views, allowing the project team to develop the proposals with them in mind.

The Government’s recently published Independent Review of Net Zero identified the UK as being uniquely placed to be a global leader in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). As a ground-breaking project for the global cement industry, Padeswood CCS will help achieve this while putting Flintshire at the heart of the country’s green transition.

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When operational, Padeswood CCS will be a key part of the HyNet industrial cluster, which could save around 10 million tonnes of CO2 per year – the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road – including up to 800,000 tonnes from Padeswood.

The upcoming consultation follows the two drop-in events on October 20, 2022, the first stage of engagement.

David Quick, plant manager at Padeswood cement works, said: "It was great to receive such positive feedback on the project at our previous events.

"We are looking forward to sharing our updated plans with the community and discussing what will be a transformative project, for Flintshire, north Wales, and our industry as a whole.

“We hope they will see it for what it is – an opportunity to help place their local works at the forefront of the worldwide movement toward carbon neutral building materials.”

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Four in-person events will be taking place at the following times and locations:

Emmanuel Church Penyffordd, Friday, February 3, 10am to 7pm

Emmanuel Church Penyffordd, Saturday, February 4, 10am to 1pm

Buckley Cross Methodist Church, Saturday, February 4, 2pm to 5pm

Buckley Cross Methodist Church, Friday, February 10, 10am to 7pm

Hardcopies of materials, including feedback forms and information booklets, will be made available at various public venues in the area throughout the consultation period.

There will also be two online sessions, on February 7 and February 15, and details on how to join these – as well as more information about the consultation events – can be found at www.padeswoodccs.co.uk.