5. Statement by the Minister for Economy: Offshore Marine Energy

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:06 pm on 17 May 2022.

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Photo of Rhun ap Iorwerth Rhun ap Iorwerth Plaid Cymru 4:06, 17 May 2022

Thanks for the statement. I welcome the focus on the potential for ports to benefit from the next generation of offshore energy generation. I've spoken with developers like BP, for example, encouraging investment in Holyhead as an offshore wind hub. The Minister will have heard me many times encouraging an honest debate about free ports and the need, for example, for the UK Government to properly fund free ports in Wales, and I'm very glad that negotiations led to that u-turn, where Wales will now be treated on equal terms with English ports, that Welsh and UK Governments will equally decide on granting free port status in Wales. I think it was well worth holding out rather than accepting the pretty poor and ambiguous offer that was on the table originally. I've written to Isle of Anglesey County Council today and I'm looking forward to working with the local authority and other partners to ensure that benefits for Holyhead are maximised. 

A very brief question about tidal stream, though. I welcome the £31 million in European funding approved by Welsh Government to develop the Morlais tidal stream demonstration zone. The infrastructure is going on, but what can Welsh Government do to make sure that blockages are removed and that the deployment of the tidal stream technology itself can be deployed as quickly as possible?