Ministerial visit to Padeswood

Wales Minister David TC Davies MP has visited Hanson’s Padeswood cement production facility in North Wales,  UK. The Minister heard first-hand about how the firm plans to upgrade its existing facility to become the UK’s first net zero cement works.

If the industry leading project goes ahead, it would be only the second facility of its kind in the world and would set the UK’s construction industry on a path to achieving the government’s binding 2050 net zero targets. 

The plant would supply net zero cement to projects such as new offshore wind farms, nuclear power stations, and clean transport infrastructure by capturing and storing 800,000t of CO2 emissions in expired gas fields in the Irish Sea through a carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipeline – part of the HyNet North West and North Wales programme. 

If built, the project would begin supplying net zero cement from 2027. This would protect 222 jobs, create 54 new full time and 350 jobs during construction. 

Wales Office Minister David TC Davies said: “The UK Government has hugely ambitious plans to reach Net Zero by 2050 with business and industry in Wales playing a key role. 

“It was fantastic to see how Hanson Cement aims to reach its own carbon-neutral targets with world-leading technology here in Flintshire while continuing to create and support jobs.”

Simon Willis, CEO Hanson UK said: “We were delighted to welcome David TC Davies MP to showcase our plans for Padeswood, which would significantly reduce carbon emissions in our business while also securing the long-term future of hundreds of highly-skilled jobs”.

From left: Hanson UK CEO Simon Willis, David TC Davies MP, Minister for Wales, Padeswood cement works plant

manager David Quick and Iain Walpole, Hanson’s head of process and sustainability – CCS, at Hanson’s existing

Padeswood facility in North Wales