New nuclear power station planned for Anglesey

Hundreds of construction jobs could be created after German power giant RWE secured a grid connection for a new nuclear power station in Anglesey.

RWE's subsidiary npower has also acquired options to buy land at Wylfa near the Magnox nuclear power station, which is set to close next year, according to the Independent.

The company said the connection could generate enough electricity to power five million homes.

Andrew Duff, the chief executive of npower, said the area would benefit from a new station.

"Anglesey's nuclear heritage means it has great potential as a location for new nuclear build. A new station at Wylfa could deliver significant economic benefits to the area through direct investment, employment and supply chain opportunities," he said.

Mike Graham, the national officer of Prospect added: "RWE npower now has the go-ahead for grid connections that would feed 3.6 gigawatts of electricity into the national grid, filling a major gap in the UK's future energy generation.

"For North Wales, and particularly Anglesey, the building of a new nuclear power station will create many hundreds of construction jobs in the near future, with massive positive impact on the local economy. In the longer term it will mean between 1,000 and 1,200 highly skilled permanent and well-paid jobs for nuclear experts."