MPs from across the political divide have teamed-up to back a plan which would create 16,000 jobs, boost Britain’s beleaguered steel industry and generate enough green energy to power 24 million homes.
Labour ’s Stephen Kinnock and Conservative Stephen Crabb hope the Celtic Freeport bid will be given the green light within days.
The scheme, which includes deepwater docks at Port Talbot, South Wales, and Milford Haven, Pembs, would attract £5.5billion investment, according to supporters.
The project would see wind turbines and platforms manufactured at Tata’s Port Talbot steelworks and sailed into the Celtic Sea off West Wales to form a floating offshore wind farm.
Maintenance experts would be based at Milford Haven - meaning two “green energy” ports on the Welsh coast.
Backers said it would accelerate the rollout of floating offshore wind farms, where turbines can be sited further out at sea where winds are stronger - increasing the electricity generated.
Sitting beside Mr Crabb, Mr Kinnock, whose Aberavon constituency includes the steelworks, said: “Stephen and I come from different sides of the political divide but we are absolutely united in our objectives for our constituents, which are to create jobs and to bring back the kind of pride to our communities that has been lost over the years because we’ve seen a decline in manufacturing, particularly here in Port Talbot.
“We are also committed to dealing with one of the biggest issues facing the planet - climate change.
“This bid does all of that.”
The plan would bolster the steel sector, which is reeling from British Steel’s grim announcement of 260 job cuts in Scunthorpe.
Speaking at Aberavon beach, Mr Kinnock hailed an “amazing opportunity to bring investment here, which will enable us to build the manufacturing base for floating offshore wind - a pioneering technology”.
He added: “It would be a huge boost for the area and a fantastic opportunity for our workforce, who make the best steel money can buy.”
Former Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Crabb, whose Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency includes Milford Haven, said the development would help keep young people in the region.
“One of the huge challenges we face is how do we hold onto talented young people?” he said.
“Where are we creating the jobs and training opportunities that are going to keep the next generation living in our communities so places on the coast in West Wales don’t become retirement villages or where people just buy second homes?
“Creating a new manufacturing industry is a tremendously exciting vision.”
While the UK is world-leading at “fixed-bottom” offshore wind - where turbines are screwed to the seabed - floating offshore wind is in its infancy.
Critics say that Britain missed out on a bonanza when fixed-bottom wind farms were built because turbines are imported from abroad.
This time, they hope turbines will be made in the UK - which can then specialise in their production.
The wind farm would provide four gigawatts of electricity by 2035 - enough to power four millions homes - rising to 24GW by 2045.
Each tower would be 300 metres (984ft) tall. The Shard in London is 310m.
Mr Crabb said: “It would be a colossal missed opportunity if we didn’t, at the beginning of this new industry, do everything we can to ensure the content, the supply chains are rooted here in the UK, and particularly in Wales.”
Mr Kinnock said: “We have been naive and complacent in the past about how we managed the green industrial revolution, and failed to seize the opportunities and get the jobs.
“We have to learn the lessons.”
The pair pointed to Wales’ rich industrial heritage as they campaigned for the freeport.
Mr Kinnock said: “The Celtic Freeport bid isn’t just about transactions, it’s about transformation.
“Wales was the cradle of the first Industrial Revolution - it can be the cradle of the Green Industrial Revolution.
“There’s a huge opportunity for us to take advantage of the resources Mother Nature has given us, the skills and talent we have.
“Let’s harness that and drive Wales forward, create those jobs, deliver for our communities and restore pride.”
Mr Crabb said: “If the Government is serious about levelling-up, net-zero, achieving greater energy security for the UK, a Celtic Freeport across the South Wales corridor is essential.
“Launching a new floating offshore wind industry helps take the country a big step forward in terms of meeting the net-zero target, but also achieving greater energy independence and security.”
Tata Steel UK’s business development manager Kamal Rajput said: “The Celtic Freeport has the potential to create a new industrial ecosystem of like-minded organisations, trying to drive genuine change, and the renewables needs of South Wales and the UK could all be borne from the Celtic Sea.
“Our analysis suggests that up to six million tonnes of steel could be needed within the Celtic Sea by 2045, which is a significant opportunity for us as a producer but it also means that we are going to need high skilled, well paid jobs to support that.”
Andrew Harston, of Associated British Ports, said: “A Celtic Freeport will be transformational for the Welsh economy.
“It will also be vital in the push towards net-zero, with significant investments in clean energy assets, including floating offshore wind.”
Supporters say the freeport would “boost green skills opportunities for future generations” - and local youngsters from Port Talbot Sea Cadets welcomed the plan.
Able Cadet Holly Thomas, 16, said: “It would give young people here more opportunities and make more jobs available. It’s exciting.”
Ordinary Cadet Nathan Rees, 15, said: “A Celtic Freeport would bring in more money and the wind farm would mean we have more electricity.
“It would help the area and the environment.”
Industry leaders hope the winning bid will be announced on Wednesday - St David’s Day.
But they believe March 15 - the Budget - is more likely.
