MORE information has come to light about how a little-known renewable energy firm plans to create and sustain 560 permanent jobs on the Milford Haven waterway.

Last month, it was announced that Cypriot-owned firm Egnedol Limited had successfully purchased both the former RNAD site at Blackbridge, and around 200 acres of neighbouring Welsh Government-owned land.

News that the firm’s proposals for a biomass-to-biogas ‘green energy’ facility would create more than 500 local jobs was widely welcomed, but after a number of failed developments on the site there was a feeling of ‘once bitten, twice shy’ from many commentators.

County councillor and Labour group leader Paul Miller, who has met with Egnedol representatives twice since the announcement, said news that the dormant site was to be brought back to life was ‘good news for Pembrokeshire’.

The firm plans to use plant matter, grown in Morocco, Greece and Egypt and shipped to Milford Haven in pellet form, to create gas, some of which will be used to generate electricity.

Thirty-six shipments are expected per year, on board 10,000 tonne ships, which works out at roughly one shipment every ten days.

Around 50MW of energy will be produced in the first phase, building up to a total capacity of 350MW.

As well as producing electricity, gas could also be sold into the national grid via an existing connection between Waterston and Blackbridge, or be converted into liquid fuels.

Waste heat and carbon dioxide would be used to support a fish, prawn and algae farm, and a halloumi cheese factory.

On its website, Egnedol says a bespoke research and development facility will be established on site, working with universities and other partners.

“After the devastating closure of the Milford Haven oil refinery, any chance for the return of well-paying, high-skilled jobs to Pembrokeshire has to be welcome news,” said Cllr Miller.

But, following ‘several false dawns when it comes to jobs and development locally’, he also urged caution.

Cllr Miller questioned how plans to employ 60 people in the first phase of operations, building to 320 across four shifts, would ‘stack up commercially’.

“To put that into context, I don’t think Murco employed 60 people per shift in operations, and RWE Npower certainly don’t,” he said.

Despite Egnedol’s success in raising the £2.7million needed to purchase the site, the ‘somewhat opaque’ financing of the project was a concern locally, acknowledged Cllr Miller.

He said Egnedol apparently had agreements to invest from Middle Eastern-based backers, specifically from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, which was ‘not necessarily an issue’, but said the company structure and ‘lack of balance sheet capital was always going to stir anxieties’.

Cllr Miller said it was vital locals ‘embraced investment in our county’, but added: “We need to go into this with our eyes open, ensuring we protect local communities while maximising benefits for the county as a whole.”