Aberafan Maesteg MP Stephen Kinnock has praised the role of Welsh industry in the UK’s green transition after a joint ministerial visit to the Port of Milford Haven alongside Chancellor John Healey MP.
The visit followed engagements with Prime Minister Andy Burnham in Port Talbot and gave ministers, staff and apprentices a first-hand look at how energy infrastructure in South Wales supports regional employment and national energy security.
Kinnock said:
“It wasn’t only the Prime Minister visiting Wales this week.
“After joining the PM in Port Talbot, I met Chancellor John Healey MP to learn about Milford Haven.
“We met staff & apprentices to understand more about how the Port of Milford Haven supports the energy sector & almost 5,000 skilled Welsh jobs, as well as the powering millions of homes.
“This Labour Government will back Welsh businesses, & ensure their success is shared by local communities.”
Driving regional prosperity and energy independence
As the UK’s leading energy port, the Port of Milford Haven handles a significant share of the nation’s energy supply and is a hub for liquefied natural gas, offshore wind and emerging floating offshore wind in the Celtic Sea. The government has also backed the Celtic Freeport linking Milford Haven and Port Talbot.
Key aspects of the strategy for the Welsh energy corridor include:
- High-skilled employment: almost 5,000 direct and indirect jobs across Pembrokeshire and the wider South Wales economy.
- Next-generation apprenticeships: vocational pathways in marine engineering, green hydrogen and renewable energy maintenance.
- Powering millions of homes: grid connections and port infrastructure to support reliable domestic energy production.
Delivering shared growth for local communities
Kinnock said major industrial investments should translate into tangible benefits for local households, supply chains and community infrastructure.
By aligning investment across Port Talbot and Milford Haven, the government aims to position South Wales as a cornerstone of the UK’s clean energy future while securing well-paid industrial jobs for future generations.
