Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking to ensure that Wales achieves maximum benefit from the Government's carbon capture and storage cluster programme.

This Government is committed to ensuring that Wales benefits fully from the UK’s Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS) Cluster programme through the HyNet Cluster, which is expected to support thousands of jobs across North West England and Wales.

Following financial close of the HyNet Transport and Storage Network in April 2025, the Padeswood project in North Wales signed final contracts with Government and is expected to capture up to 800,000 tonnes of CO2 annually as well as supporting secure, long-term jobs.

Since August 2025, eight capture projects based across Wales and the North West of England have been in negotiations for the HyNet cluster. Officials in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) are continuing to negotiate with these projects to best deliver against the CCUS programme’s objectives.

CCUS will also be key to decarbonising South Wales' heavy industries, and the Milford Haven CO2 project is progressing proposals for carbon shipping in the region. As Secretary of State for Wales, I will continue to work with Cabinet colleagues to support industry throughout the region.