US giant ‘believed to be reviving interest’

US energy giant Westinghouse is “believed” to be reviving its interest in the Wylfa site - after losing out to Hitachi on the deal eight years ago.

Welsh Government Economy Minister Ken Skates says there is US interest in reviving plans for a nuclear plant on Anglesey.

Westinghouse were beaten by Hitachi in a bidding war for the Wylfa site in 2012.

But the Japanese multinational this month announced they were pulling out of funding the £16bn Wylfa Newydd development.

Now Welsh Government minister Mr Skates says he understands the US are keen to be involved in the site, described as the “best in the UK” for new nuclear.

He said: “In spite of Hitachi’s deeply disappointing announcement I’m still very optimistic for the Wylfa site. It’s the very best site in the UK, arguably Europe.

“We’re engaging with UK Government in terms of other interested parties. We are aware, with regard to potential other investors that key allies are interested in Wylfa, the

United States, Westinghouse, they are interested we believe.

“We’ll work with our partners to explore every single option there is to guarantee that all energy that is required to secure an alternative funder and potentially technology provider will be explored.

“There are huge opportunities with nuclear right across North Wales.”

Westinghouse Electric Company has not commented.

Its AP1000 nuclear power plant design has successfully completed review by UK regulators.

The reactors were due to be used by NuGen, the UK joint venture between Japan’s Toshiba and France’s Engie, at Moorside, in West Cumbria. But in November 2018, Toshiba announced it was withdrawing from the new-build project.

US president Donald Trump has previously stated he would not want the Wylfa development sold to Chinese investors.

The department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy(BEIS) has been asked to comment.