30 Jan 2026

Shotton Mill Welcomes Cabinet Secretary for Landmark CBI Energy Transition Group Discussion

It was a great pleasure to host The Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Economy and Planning, Rebecca Evans MS and the CBI Energy Transition Group to Shotton Mill Limited on Friday, 30th January.

The visit provided a platform to discuss the practical challenges and opportunities businesses face during the shift to Net Zero. The meeting was attended by over 30 CBI members on-site, with a wider group joining via a live stream. The focus was on the "energy transition journey" and the specific policy support required to sustain large-scale industrial projects. Direct engagement with the Cabinet Secretary allowed members to highlight regional economic priorities and the infrastructure needs of the North Wales business community. "The opportunity for businesses to speak directly to the Cabinet Secretary and to share the issues facing our community was very much welcomed," Jackie Pearson, Director of Corporate Affairs for Shotton Mill noted. "The high turnout from the CBI group underscores just how critical these conversations are for our regional economic health."

Following the briefing, the Cabinet Secretary and CBI delegates toured the construction site and the Paper Machine Hall. This provided a first-hand look at the engineering scale of the project and the progress made toward full operational status. Members of the Shotton Mill team were on hand to provide further insight into to on site developments.

Shotton Mill is currently undergoing a "monumental transformation." The redevelopment is designed to create a world-class facility that will:

  • Anchor the regional economy for decades to come.
  • Utilize state-of-the-art technology to minimize environmental impact.
  • Provide high-skilled jobs in the Deeside industrial hub.
The visit concluded with a shared sense of momentum. By bridging the gap between government strategy and industrial execution, Shotton Mill and CBI Wales are setting a blueprint for how the energy transition can drive economic growth.

"We are turning our vision into reality here at Shotton. We are grateful to the Cabinet Secretary and CBI Wales for such a collaborative and valuable event."