Anglesey Aluminium site vital to boost island's economy

The leader of Anglesey Council will make representations to the Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM Ltd) Board, emphasising the importance of the site to the Island's economic plight.

The former Anglesey Aluminium site in Holyhead still has the potential to provide a huge catalyst for new jobs and growth – despite news of a possible further 60 redundancies.

Anglesey Aluminium parent companies, joint owners Rio Tinto Zinc and Kaiser Aluminium, rejected a £48m bailout by the Government to keep the plant open in 2009 with the loss of nearly 400 jobs.

Since then, Land and Lakes has put forward proposals to use land owned by the company to build a holiday village and heritage centre, while biomass proposals by Lateral Power were also unveiled for the site last year.

Anglesey Council Leader, Councillor Bryan Owen, said: “We are still hopeful that Lateral Power will purchase and redevelop the smelter site to create a biomass plant, creating up to 400 jobs.

“Work with the site owner, potential investor, and UK Government is still on-going to try and ensure the appropriate consents are secured. This commitment and hard work behind the scenes makes attracting a new employer to the site more likely.”

Cllr Owen added: “Securing new investment will also be essential to safeguard the future of the Penrhos Coastal Park, which is also owned by AAM Ltd. Both sites are clearly of great importance to the Island’s future economic prosperity.”

Since the smelting operation closed in 2009 the remaining workforce has focused on the site’s decommissioning and re-melt business.

However, increased competition, a rise in material costs and a drop in demand for its products has led to severe operating losses.

The company, confirmed it is consulting the workforce about the future of the plant and possible closure.

Responding to the news of more potential job losses on the Island, Anglesey’s head of economic development, Dylan Williams, said: “This is unfortunately another example of how employment and the Island's economy are very much influenced by global forces. We will continue to work with AAM Ltd. which is committed to ensuring that the site provides Anglesey with a positive economic legacy.”

He added: “Anglesey’s status as a Welsh Government Enterprise Zone should also help ensure that all possible public sector assistance is directed to restore the smelter site to its rightful place as a major employment hub.”