Government plans to create 2,000 skilled jobs as part of clean energy initiative

It comes as part of the government's Plan for Change

The UK Government has revealed that a new carbon capture network is set to create 2,000 new skilled jobs.

According to a new press release from the Government, a major carbon capture and storage network is ready for construction, which will support 2,000 jobs and should help reduce emissions.

It comes after energy company Eni have finalised a deal with the government in which they are awarding around £2 billion in supply chain contracts and comes as part of a commitment made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to develop a world leading carbon capture industry.

The government claim that by launching this new industry for Britain, it provides a major boost for heavy industry - which is part of the government’s commitment to backing British manufacturing.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "Our Plan for Change is working – we said we’d deliver jobs and growth through carbon capture technology, and now we have. Shovels ready for the ground, supporting over 2,000 new jobs and supporting thousands more, transforming the lives of hard-working people."

The new carbon capture and storage system will create a "network of clean infrastructure, decarbonising industries like energy from waste, hydrogen and cement production" while backing highly skilled jobs in construction and enabling future generation of low carbon power, the government press release states.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: "Today we keep our promise to launch a whole new clean energy industry for our country - carbon capture and storage - to deliver thousands of highly skilled jobs and revitalise our industrial communities.

"We are making the UK energy secure and backing our engineers, electricians and welders so we can protect families and businesses and drive jobs through our Plan for Change."

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: "We promised to revitalise our nation’s industrial heartlands, create good jobs, make Britain a clean energy superpower and grow our economy to put more money in working people’s pockets.

"This deal is another example of us delivering on those promises with thousands of new jobs created, our energy security strengthened, and our industries decarbonised with a game-changing technology - our Plan for Change in action."

Keir Starmer confirmed the deal today, April 24, in a speech at the Future of Energy Security Summit, hosted by the UK government and International Energy Agency.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: "This week’s Summit is a critical opportunity to make progress on international energy security. We’re working with partners through our Global Clean Power Alliance (GCPA) to accelerate global clean energy, which promises to bring growth, jobs and lower bills to the UK.

"As the Prime Minister has set out today, the GCPA will next focus on assuring reliable, low-cost clean energy supply chains. In a more uncertain world, cooperation across the Global North and South will be essential to deliver this."