Thursday, July 14th, 2016
Good progress continues to be made on the construction of the renewable energy power station. The main buildings, the boiler house and the woodchip store (which will store up to 7 days of fuel stock when in operation) are well advanced, and the ducting for the connection to the local electricity grid is in place.
An average of 200 people are currently working on site for the main project contractors and more than 30 sub-contractor firms, and this number will peak to 350 people within the next few weeks. A good number of the sub-contractors are local to the area including Davies Crane Hire (Swansea), Shufflebottoms (Swansea) and Cardiff Steel. Everyone is working hard to have the Margam plant ready for operation next year.
Given the size and nature of the project a great deal of attention is given to ensuring the highest standards in health and safety management on site and there are guidelines and procedures which are strictly enforced. We are pleased to report that, to date, there have been no lost-time accidents.
Relationships with the local community and Neath Port Talbot Council are important for the Margam plant. On July 7th, council members and officers visited the site to see the work that has been done since their last visit in February. In addition to this over recent months, the plant has hosted visits from engineering students from Swansea University and a ‘Women in Construction’ Group from Avon and we were pleased to welcome pupils from Dyffen Comprehensive School who visited the site and painted a mural on the entrance to the site.
As well as hosting educational visits, Margam Green Energy Limited is providing money to the Margam Community Benefit Fund that is administered by Neath Port Talbot Council. Since the Fund was launched in January, 10 different groups in the area have received money including the Margam Community Centre, Coed Hirwaun Primary School, Age Connects and Margam Archers. Information on the application process for funding can be obtained from Neath Port Talbot Council.