Welsh Conservatives Senedd Member for Ceredigion Penfro, Paul Davies MS has demanded urgent action from the Plaid Cymru Welsh Government, after Impala Terminals confirmed commercial operations at its Milford Haven site will cease at the end of December, putting skilled local jobs at risk.

The company has said the decision follows unsuccessful attempts to secure a new contract and a formal consultation process has now begun with its 43-strong workforce.

Conservative Ceredigion Penfro MS Paul Davies raised the announcement directly in the Senedd, pressing the Welsh Government to intervene and help ensure the skills and expertise of workers affected are not lost from Pembrokeshire.

Impala’s Milford Haven facility has operated as a fuel storage and distribution terminal, handling products including diesel, petrol and aviation fuel. The company has said it is now reviewing potential future uses for the site.

Mr Davies warned that the consequences of losing skilled employment from the terminal could extend far beyond those directly employed there, affecting families, contractors, local businesses and the wider economy around Milford Haven and the Haven Waterway.

He also warned that losing experienced workers now could undermine efforts to attract new industrial and energy investment to the area in the future.

Mr Davies said: “This is deeply concerning news for the workforce and their families, but the implications go much wider than the jobs directly affected.

“Milford Haven and the Haven Waterway have been at the heart of Pembrokeshire’s economy for generations and we have built up a highly skilled and experienced workforce around our energy and industrial sectors.

“Once those skills leave the area, they are incredibly difficult to bring back. That is why urgent action is needed now.

“I raised this directly in the Senedd because I want to know what discussions the Welsh Government has had with Impala, what direct support it is putting on the table and what it is doing to help retain these workers and their expertise here in Pembrokeshire.

“We cannot simply wait until people have been made redundant, found jobs elsewhere or moved away and then ask what could have been done.

“There should now be an urgent effort involving the Welsh Government, Impala and other employers around the Haven to identify opportunities for those affected and ensure that their skills remain part of our local economy.

“At a time when so much is being said about future investment and new energy opportunities around the Haven, we simply cannot afford to lose the skilled workforce needed to deliver that future.

“These workers and their families deserve clarity, support and, above all, action,” he added.

Impala has attributed the decision to a combination of the wider global geopolitical backdrop, fuel market economics and customer demands. The company has said it is supporting employees through the consultation process and examining alternative future uses for the site.

Mr Davies said he will continue pressing the Welsh Government for details of its response and the practical support being made available to retain skilled employment within Pembrokeshire.