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The potential loss of 125 jobs at a Bedwas aluminium plant has been raised in the Senedd, with the Welsh Government saying it “stands ready” to support workers.

Speaking in the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday December 16, Caerphilly MS Lindsay Whittle described Norsk Hydro’s plans to shut the site as a “devastating blow”.

Posing a question to the Welsh Government, Plaid Cymru’s Mr Whittle asked what actions were being taken to engage with Norsk Hydro – which is planning to close four other sites across Europe.

The Norwegian firm previously said the decision was due to “prolonged weak demand and market downturn”.

Staff at the site were informed of the the proposals on November 26, with a formal consultation process underway.

Mr Whittle said: “This is a devastating blow before Christmas. If the decision following the consultation period is to close, then we need the support of the Welsh Government to take urgent steps to make sure that there is retraining, and hopefully new employment opportunities, as soon as possible for these highly-skilled workers.

“I visited the plant myself [on Monday December 15]. I spoke to one worker -this is his sixth redundancy in his working life. Speaking as a former aluminium worker who was also made redundant in the 1980s, it’s a devastating blow.”

Responding on behalf of the government, social justice secretary Jane Hutt said: “The news, of course, is very worrying for the Norsk Hydro workforce, both for their families and the community, and we stand ready to support the workforce affected by this decision.”

‘Not an easy decision’

A Norsk Hydro spokesperson told Caerphilly Observer: “The Bedwas plant, like the other affected plants, has struggled financially over time and will also require substantial investments in the years to come to reach a sufficient level of operational excellence.

“This is not an easy decision and not something we take lightly, but the overall aim is to optimise Hydro’s European and UK extrusion footprint and strengthen the company’s long-term competitiveness.”