Energy minister Martin McCluskey has set out the Government's case for treating carbon capture infrastructure as part of Britain's industrial strategy.
He told the Carbon Capture and Storage Association conference that projects and supply chains in the sector are already supporting around 5,500 jobs across the UK.
Five projects have reached final investment decisions. In the East Coast Cluster, the Northern Endurance Partnership and Net Zero Teesside Power are expected to support about 3,000 construction jobs, while Liverpool Bay CCS in the HyNet cluster is supporting more than 1,400.
McCluskey said the East Coast projects had announced more than £2 billion of supply-chain contracts involving over 260 UK suppliers. They had also announced more than £1 million for local skills work, with 175 young people in training.
The Government is funding development work for carbon capture infrastructure in the Humber through the Viking cluster and supporting the development of Acorn in Scotland. McCluskey said further steps for additional East Coast storage capacity would be set out soon.
He also acknowledged the fiscal constraints on the programme and said the next phase would require public investment to be targeted where it offers the greatest value. The speech did not announce a new funding settlement.
