Josh MacAlister MP has welcomed plans for a new sodium treatment facility at the Port of Workington, describing the project as a major vote of confidence in West Cumbria’s nuclear expertise and industrial potential.
Cumberland Council has completed the necessary agreements with Cavendish Nuclear and its delivery partner Amentum to lease land at the port for the proposed facility.
Subject to planning and regulatory approvals, the facility will support the decommissioning of the Monju Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor in Japan. It will safely process sodium coolant removed from the reactor into sodium hydroxide, a commercially usable product.
The construction phase is expected to be worth more than £25 million, with significant opportunities for businesses across the West Cumbrian supply chain. The facility will also require an operational workforce of around 20 people over its approximately seven years of operation.
Josh has been involved in the project from the outset, working with the companies and Cumberland Council to help overcome obstacles and secure the investment for Workington. He recently met representatives from Cavendish Nuclear and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency at the port to discuss the proposals and the wider opportunities they could create.
Josh MacAlister MP said:
“This is a major vote of confidence in the Port of Workington, our world-class nuclear workforce and the strength of the West Cumbrian supply chain.
“I have been involved in this project from the outset and have worked with Cavendish Nuclear, Amentum and Cumberland Council to help overcome the barriers to bringing it here. When I recently met the team and representatives from the Japanese Atomic Energy Agency at the port, I was impressed by the scale of their ambition and their commitment to working with our area.
“This project will bring substantial construction investment, opportunities for local companies and highly skilled jobs. Just as importantly, it demonstrates to other major investors that the Port of Workington is ready to host nationally and internationally significant industrial projects.
“It comes alongside the wider work I am leading with the council, the port and other partners to build the case for major long-term investment in the port’s infrastructure and unlock its full economic potential.
“Just up the road, we are also working to progress plans for a pioneering sustainable aviation fuel facility, which could bring another major wave of investment and skilled employment to Workington.
“Taken together, these projects show the scale of the opportunity in front of us. My focus is on turning that potential into real investment, good jobs and lasting prosperity for local people.”
Josh MacAlister MP 