Alun Cairns, MP for Vale of Glamorgan and Secretary of State for Wales, has visited Tarmac’s Aberthaw Cement Plant to meet some of the team and learn more about the company’s continued commitment to the only integrated cement manufacturing facility in South Wales.
Colleagues from the plant welcomed Alun and gave him a tour where he learnt about the company’s contribution to the local economy and community. He also saw and formally opened the company’s raw mix project, which is focused on further enhancing the quality and uniformity of the cement the site produces with improved use of local limestone, whilst also removing significant numbers of trucks from local roads.
Tarmac’s Aberthaw site has been a major employer in the local Vale of Glamorgan area for many years and currently employs 112 people directly. The cement plant is the only one of its kind in South Wales and the cement made in Aberthaw contributes to the UK’s most significant infrastructure projects.
Graeme Bride, Tarmac Aberthaw’s Plant Manager, welcomed Alun to the site and said:
“We’re proud of the positive impact our operations have on the local South Wales area and it was a pleasure to host Alun.
“As well as introducing him to some of our dedicated team we discussed our ongoing commitment to continuously improving energy efficiency and sustainability, we spoke of the importance of the continued use of cement in delivering the sustainable infrastructure needed to grow the local and regional economy, as well as our innovations in new product development and process optimisation to help create a more sustainable built environment.
“While touring the site Alun also had the chance to meet our two new apprentices and hear about our community partnerships and projects.”
Alun Cairns MP said:
“It was fantastic to visit Tarmac’s plant in Aberthaw again and to hear about the work the company is doing.
“Tarmac’s cement products are at the heart of delivering key infrastructure projects to ensure the UK and Wales economy grows. As a major local employer, it was fantastic to hear how the company continues to positively impact the local and wider economy and to hear first-hand from those employees and apprentices who are working hard to drive such benefits.”
Aberthaw Cement Plant is the only cement works in South Wales. Cement made at Aberthaw has contributed to some of Wales’ most significant construction projects of recent time, including Pembroke Power Station, The Millennium Centre and home of the Welsh Government – The Senedd, both in Cardiff Bay.