The GDF developer has published a new report focusing on the employment opportunities a GDF could bring: GDF – (Geological Disposal Facility) Creating Jobs & Skills: A First Look
The key information from the report (which is not specific to any particular area):
- A GDF will create more than 4,000 jobs within the first 25 years, once the early stages of siting and initial construction begin
- Work on a GDF will carry on for about 175 years, creating jobs for generations and generating an average of 2,000 jobs in any given year.
- It is estimated that most of the jobs created during construction and operation could and should be locally based.
- The GDF developer is committed to training, support, and roles for the local community.
Chair of Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership Andy Pratt said:
“The Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership welcomes this report from the GDF developer which begins to give an indication of the sort of jobs which would be created by hosting a Geological Disposal Facility and the numbers required.
“We don’t know at this stage where a GDF will be hosted. Copeland is already home to Sellafield, Europe’s largest nuclear plant, directly employing around 11,000 people. Work is already under way at Sellafield to package radioactive waste, ready for emplacement in a GDF.
“We recognise that this report is a ‘first look’ and that further work will be required from the GDF developer to give more details.
“There are a number of nuclear-related developments which could potentially be hosted in Cumbria and would all require a skilled workforce at different times. This could help to retain skills and knowledge as well as providing further development opportunities for local people.
“Our Community Partnership will be considering this report in further detail. We’re interested in ensuring a commitment to jobs and long-term careers for local people by using local training providers and supply chain.
“We’re also interested in the new skills this could bring to the area, what opportunities it could bring for future generations of local people and how businesses may want to diversify further to meet the needs of this infrastructure project if Mid Copeland wants to progress further in the GDF programme.”