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Metal plant 'to close next month' Metal plant 'to close next month'
(10 minutes later)
Smelting operations at Anglesey Aluminium will come to an end in September leading to 300 job losses, it has been confirmed. Smelting operations at Anglesey Aluminium's plant in Holyhead will come to an end in September leading to 300 job losses, it has been confirmed.
The firm said a viable solution could not be reached to save the site. The firm said a viable solution could not be reached but last month rejected a £48m four-year aid offer because it was "not enough to break even".
The UK government had made a £50m offer in the hope of saving the Holyhead plant and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he was "bitterly disappointed". The company had wanted an extension of its deal to buy electricity cheaply from nearby Wylfa power station.
The company had wanted an extension of its deal to buy electricity cheaply from the nearby Wylfa power station. Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he was "bitterly disappointed" at the closure.
Gwilym Owen of the Unite union said they were only told the news this afternoon. Gwilym Owen of the Unite union said they were told the news this afternoon.
"This news is very disappointing after so much work and effort was put into keeping operations here. The most disappointing thing of all is that we were so close to getting an agreement.""This news is very disappointing after so much work and effort was put into keeping operations here. The most disappointing thing of all is that we were so close to getting an agreement."
Ynys Mon MP Albert Owen said the closure would be a "devastating blow to the region's economy".Ynys Mon MP Albert Owen said the closure would be a "devastating blow to the region's economy".
Redundancies
Mr Hain added: "We put forward an extremely generous proposal in good faith which would have provided £48m financial assistance to the plant over the next four years.Mr Hain added: "We put forward an extremely generous proposal in good faith which would have provided £48m financial assistance to the plant over the next four years.
"We undertook a huge amount of detailed work in a very short time to put the..package together but it was simply not possible to reach an agreement.""We undertook a huge amount of detailed work in a very short time to put the..package together but it was simply not possible to reach an agreement."
In July, the company announced 250 redundancies, hot on the heels of 140 voluntary redundancies. In July, the company announced 250 redundancies, hot on the heels of 140 voluntary redundancies. With the plant closure, 80 people will be kept on to maintain the site.
With the plant closure, 80 people will be kept on to maintain the site. In a statement, the company said there had been no breakthrough in its negotiations with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to try and extend its existing power contract.
It said the workforce "has been patient" over the "last-minute negotiations with governments that might have reversed or changed" the redundancy notices.
It added: "This notice today brings an end to that period of uncertainty."
'Attractive offer'
Ieuan Wyn Jones, the island's AM, who is also economic development minister with the Welsh Assembly Government and leader of Plaid Cymru, said it was "devastating news for the workforce and for the island's economy.
He said: "I am extremely disappointed that the company did not feel able to accept the offer of support on the terms set out."
A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said: "We have worked extremely hard to put a £48m rescue package together in conjunction with the UK government and it is unfortunate that the parent companies RTZ and Kaiser were not able to accept such an attractive offer.
"Our absolute priority now is to help the people involved to find alternative jobs - or to acquire the new skills needed for alternative careers.
"We are also working closely with the company and Anglesey County Council to examine all possible options for creating new employment opportunities on the Anglesey Aluminium site."