The construction works on the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon have been postponed due to delays in agreeing the subsidy with the UK government.
The building of the lagoon’s wall was planned for the spring of 2016, but since the UK government is trailing with the finalization of contract for difference for the lagoon as reported by Wales Online, the construction works are not expected to begin before March 2017.
The UK government is supposedly reviewing the figures for the other planned lagoons in addition to the one in Swansea Bay, because, according to Tidal Lagoon Power, the developer behind the proposed tidal lagoons, the costs will decrease as other lagoons in Cardiff, Newport and Colwyn Bay are built.
However, the initial civil works on the project site are expected to begin in the fall next year.
Tidal Lagoon Power issued a notice saying: “We are nearing the end of the Advanced Works Phase and good progress has been made with our preferred construction partners. The end of this phase of activity means that we’ll be ready to build once the remaining permissions have been secured and financial close with investors is achieved.
“The Board of Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay has concluded that this won’t be possible by year-end, ruling out the start of marine works next spring. A new timetable has therefore been agreed with tier 1 contractors targeting financial close next summer. Our aim is to then start the initial civil works on site in autumn 2016 in order that the marine works can start in spring 2017. As a result, target power on moves to 2021.”
To remind, the planning consent for the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon was granted on June 9 this year by the UK Secretary of State, Amber Rudd, and China Harbour Engineering Company has been named as preferred bidder for the £300 mln contract to conduct marine works for the project, including the construction of the 9.6 km long lagoon wall.
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Image: TLP