Ebbw Vale battery firm creates 100 jobs from £2.5m fund

Economy minister Vaughan Gething says GS Yuasa is an important employer for the region

More than 100 new jobs are being created at a battery manufacturing plant after it got £2.5m in funding.

GS Yuasa said 105 jobs would be created - and 360 more protected - at its production plant on Rassau Industrial Estate in Ebbw Vale, Blaenau Gwent.

It got the cash from the Welsh government to increase production and energy efficiency.

A new assembly line will make industrial lithium-ion batteries, as used in the renewable energy sector.

The new style batteries will be used in industrial settings where there cannot be breaks in power, such as hospital operating theatres, telecommunications and data servers.

GS Yuasa's batteries supplied power to the NHS Nightingale hospitals and other key medical projects during the coronavirus pandemic.

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A new assembly line will be installed and some key areas will be automated, with the new jobs coming in the next "three to five years," the company said.

Chief executive Andrew Taylor said: "Over the last few years we've seen the demand in data servers across Europe growing and growing and we need to increase capacity in this plant.

"This is great news for the local area, Wales and the UK."

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: "GS Yuasa is a hugely important employer in Ebbw Vale and news the business is investing in its future there is to be warmly welcomed.

"I'm delighted we are supporting the company's plans and that so many quality employment opportunities will be created."