Fusion Industry Taskforce Meets Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council in Retford to Discuss Region’s Fusion Energy Potential

By Michael Zdanowski
This month in the historic location of Retford Town Hall in Nottinghamshire, affiliate organisations in the Fusion Industry Taskforce (FIT) met with representatives from Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to discuss the region’s potential to become a global hub for fusion energy.

With plans underway for the world’s first fusion demonstration reactor, STEP – Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production – to be developed at the site of a former coal-fired power station at West Burton near Retford, discussions at the meeting focused on how to bring high-skilled, high-quality and high-paid jobs to the East Midlands and South Yorkshire for generations to come. 
 
Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council highlighted the importance of collaboration with fusion and energy industry stakeholders including the supply chain as central to their aspirations to create a new “megawatt valley” in the East Midlands, which would provide the UK with secure, affordable and abundant energy. 
 
David Armiger, Chief Executive of Bassetlaw District Council, said: “Fusion is set to become a huge part of Bassetlaw’s DNA and we welcomed the opportunity to sit down with members of the Fusion Industry Taskforce to talk about our ambitions for the region both as a result of STEP being located at West Burton, and how our Vision 2040 will support this transformative process for our residents and businesses.
 
There are enormous benefits that the wider Fusion sector can bring to Bassetlaw and we are excited to now be a part of this conversation and look forward to being a future partner of this taskforce.
 
The Fusion Industry Taskforce is grateful to Bassetlaw District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council for hosting its affiliate organisations and for providing invaluable insights during their visit.