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Welsh Conservatives Senedd Member for Ceredigion Penfro, Paul Davies MS has demanded urgent action from the Plaid Cymru Welsh Government, after Impala Terminals confirmed commercial operations at its Milford Haven site will cease at the end of December, putting skilled local jobs at risk.
The company has said the decision follows unsuccessful attempts to secure a new contract and a formal consultation process has now begun with its 43-strong workforce.
Conservative Ceredigion Penfro MS Paul Davies raised the announcement directly in the Senedd, pressing the Welsh Government to intervene and help ensure the skills and expertise of workers affected are not lost from Pembrokeshire.
Impala’s Milford Haven facility has operated as a fuel storage and distribution terminal, handling products including diesel, petrol and aviation fuel. The company has said it is now reviewing potential future uses for the site.
Mr Davies warned that the consequences of losing skilled employment from the terminal could extend far beyond those directly employed there, affecting families, contractors, local businesses and the wider economy around Milford Haven and the Haven Waterway.
He also warned that losing experienced workers now could undermine efforts to attract new industrial and energy investment to the area in the future.
Mr Davies said: “This is deeply concerning news for the workforce and their families, but the implications go much wider than the jobs directly affected.
“Milford Haven and the Haven Waterway have been at the heart of Pembrokeshire’s economy for generations and we have built up a highly skilled and experienced workforce around our energy and industrial sectors.
“Once those skills leave the area, they are incredibly difficult to bring back. That is why urgent action is needed now.
“I raised this directly in the Senedd because I want to know what discussions the Welsh Government has had with Impala, what direct support it is putting on the table and what it is doing to help retain these workers and their expertise here in Pembrokeshire.
“We cannot simply wait until people have been made redundant, found jobs elsewhere or moved away and then ask what could have been done.
“There should now be an urgent effort involving the Welsh Government, Impala and other employers around the Haven to identify opportunities for those affected and ensure that their skills remain part of our local economy.
“At a time when so much is being said about future investment and new energy opportunities around the Haven, we simply cannot afford to lose the skilled workforce needed to deliver that future.
“These workers and their families deserve clarity, support and, above all, action,” he added.
Impala has attributed the decision to a combination of the wider global geopolitical backdrop, fuel market economics and customer demands. The company has said it is supporting employees through the consultation process and examining alternative future uses for the site.

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Transcript
00:00I'd like to request a statement from the cabinet minister for enterprise connectivity on the announcement that Milford Haven's Impala
00:08terminal is to cease its commercial operations at the end of this year.
00:12We must fully understand the implications of this announcement, including the scale of any job losses and the impact on
00:20the local economy.
00:21And we also need further clarity on how the Welsh Government intends to support both the company and its workforce
00:28as this situation develops.
00:30These are highly skilled and valuable jobs and every effort must be made to retain this expertise within the region
00:36and to safeguard future employment opportunities.
00:39Now, in my view, losing such skills would be a significant blow to the local economy and indeed to the
00:45wider energy sector.
00:47Therefore, I'd be grateful if the Welsh Government could provide an urgent statement outlining its engagement with the company to
00:54date, the discussions it has held regarding the future of the terminal and the support that may be available to
01:00both the workforce and the operator going forward.
01:05I thank the member for raising an important, which I know is of great concern to members in the wake
01:11of this news.
01:12And I know that the government is in discussions with the company to understand what the implications are.
01:18I also understand that there is a timely question on this issue, which will be an issue for the Llywyd
01:25and Dibliwyd to consider.
01:27And certainly we are very disappointed to hear this news.
01:30I know that this will create great concern locally and for those who face uncertainty in the broader communities.
01:41So to provide the assurance to the member that those discussions with the government and the company are continuing.
01:47And certainly I will ensure that the minister, the cabinet minister will know that you have raised this important issue
01:53today.

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