Work is set to start this month on an important extension of the historic Penrhyn slate quarry that will help safeguard jobs and secure reserves that could last for up to 20 years at current rates of production.

The project is supported by the Welsh Government which provided a loan to enable Welsh Slate Ltd to speed up the purchase of an adjacent 20 acre parcel of land following a rock fall at the Bethesda quarry.

The rock fall covered the quarry floor with around half a million tons of debris which had a major impact on the quarrying operations taking place at the time. Health and safety constraints prohibited the removal of the debris which would have resulted in the loss of at least four months production.


Managing Director Chris Allwood said with union agreement a four day week was introduced for 90 members of staff which avoided any temporary lay offs or redundancies, while others were deployed at another site.

Mr Allwood explained: "It was essential that we acquired this 20 acre site to extend operations and the loan from the Welsh Government was absolutely vital. It helped speed up the acquisition of the land which combined with the planning process which was already in progress we are now set to start quarrying here this month following extensive preparatory work on the new site."

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: "Welsh Slate is a key employer in the area providing a significant number of well paid, highly skilled jobs and makes an important annual contribution to the economy."

(CD)