Mon, 07 Jul 2025

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 Carbon capture project 'to boost hundreds of jobs'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Peak Cluster project would modernise the cement and lime industry.
A £59.6 million project to capture carbon emissions from cement and lime factories in the Peak District will create hundreds of jobs, according to Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The project, known as the Peak Cluster initiative, involves building a pipeline that will transfer CO2 from Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and the North West to be stored under the Irish Sea. This will modernize the cement and lime industry, support over 2,000 existing jobs, and create around 300 permanent roles. A further 1,200 temporary positions will be created during construction. The Peak Cluster project is being backed by £28.6 million from the government's National Wealth Fund and £31 million from private partners. The project aims to prevent over three million tonnes of CO2 entering the atmosphere each year. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband described the investment as a "landmark" that will drive forward the country's industrial renewal. The plan is part of a larger effort to create 13,000 jobs across the UK in carbon capture and storage. The government has committed to investing at least £5.8 billion in this sector by 2030.
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