Associated British Ports (ABP), the UK’s leading and best-connected port operator, has today announced its ambitious plans for the Port of Newport, which will help start a new era of green growth for the port and the city.
Sustainability is at the core of ABP’s business, and with this latest vision, the company presents a route towards Newport becoming a clean-manufacturing and logistics growth cluster, which is ready for the next industrial age.
ABP’s visionary plans centre around energy, and include a focus on harnessing wind and solar sources, which will ultimately be linked to hydrogen electrolysis and e-fuels manufacturing plants. These facilities, along with carbon capture and heat networks, will underpin next-generation manufacturing and logistics, attracting a new cluster of businesses looking to future-proof their operations. The development will also be connected to low-carbon rail and marine logistics and will expect to see hundreds of highly productive jobs created at the resulting Newport clean growth hub. This will create benefits that spill right across the city and beyond.
While the plan includes innovations that aim to support business to future-proof and meet net zero targets, the classic port role will remain. This means that ABP will also be investing in reconfigured access, new cargo-handling equipment, high-efficiency warehousing and ready-to-go development sites, and all with cutting-edge IT.
Ashley Curnow, Divisional Port Manager, ABP, commented: “This Masterplan is a bold step towards a sustainable future. Newport has a history of reinvention, and we are now embarking on a journey that will position both the port, and the city of Newport as a key player in the evolution towards a decarbonised economy.
“The Masterplan foresees a decade-long investment boom, and ABP’s investments will help provide superb service to customers, as well as delivering ABP’s commitment, as set out in our sustainability strategy – Ready for Tomorrow – to get our own operations to net zero by 2040.”
The Masterplan outlines three main objectives, which are to create:
- A thriving, decarbonised industrial logistics port
- A clean growth hub
- Well-being for current and future generations.
Ashley to add something about community. “Not merely confined to the port itself but extends to a broader role for Newport in supporting businesses across Wales and the UK in transitioning to a new, sustainable economy.”
Jane Mudd MP expressed enthusiasm for ABP’s Masterplan, stating: “ABP’s commitment to sustainability and collaboration is commendable, and we’re excited about the potential this vision for Newport has to shape a brighter and greener future for our city.
“We look forward to working with ABP to implement the aspirations of the Masterplan and bring benefits to the City of Newport and maximise the opportunities to zero carbon economy.”
Newport is the latest of ABP’s five ports in South Wales to have undergone an extensive Masterplanning process – previously Barry and Port Talbot – and as part of ABP’s wider Wales Vision.
Ashley Curnow added: “We are at the start of a transformative journey for Newport and ABP is optimistic about Newport’s potential for a new era of innovative and productive growth.
“We see the Masterplan as an invitation to stakeholders, customers and the broader community to join ABP on this journey towards a more sustainable and prosperous future for Newport.”