CCSA statement on Andy Burnham MP's policy speech in Manchester

The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) today welcomed Andy Burnham MP’s focus on reindustrialising every region of the UK, backed by stronger local growth plans and better alignment of public and private investment. The CCSA agrees that a place-based industrial strategy is essential to drive prosperity across the country.

The carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) industry is already delivering, with the first projects in Teesside and Liverpool Bay now in construction. Together, these projects have placed around £4bn of contracts and are supporting approximately 5,000 construction jobs, alongside more than 300 subcontracts awarded to UK companies across the supply chain. This early momentum highlights how CCUS investment can translate industrial strategy into real economic activity in the regions that need it most.

CCUS will be crucial in revitalising the UK’s industrial heartlands by sustaining foundational industries, including the cement and chemical sectors, while also supporting energy security. By helping existing industries decarbonise while spurring new clean growth, CCUS can anchor investment in regional economies and strengthen domestic supply chains.

The CCSA has been encouraged Mr Burnham’s focus on skills and training – from technical education to apprenticeships – to build the skilled workforce needed to deliver CCUS and industrial decarbonisation at scale. Strong regional skills pipelines will be vital to turn this ambition into reality.

Olivia Powis, CEO of the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, said:

“The direction set out by Andy Burnham on reindustrialisation and regional growth is a welcome one, but delivery must be the priority. CCUS is already supporting jobs and securing supply chain contracts across the UK, and with the right alignment of industrial strategy and skills, we can scale deployment at pace.”

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

• Interview requests: To interview Olivia Powis, CEO of the CCSA, please contact sara.price@ccsassociation.org

• Press Pack: FAQs, infographics and an animation can be downloaded from the CCSA media centre. 

About the CCSA

CCUS, or Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, is a key low-carbon solution that supports industrial decarbonisation, clean power, clean hydrogen and greenhouse gas removals, including Direct Air Capture with Storage (DACS) and Bioenergy with CCS (BECCS).

The CCSA is the trade association accelerating the commercial deployment of CCUS in the UK and Europe, working with industry, governments and other stakeholders to help deliver net zero and sustainable growth.

The CCSA represents more than 100 member companies across the full CCUS value chain, including capture, transport, utilisation, storage, power, industry, hydrogen and the wider supply chain.