Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of industrial carbon capture projects, such as Peak Cluster, on safeguarding domestic cement production and skilled jobs in Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

Carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) is essential for fully decarbonising clinker production within the cement sector, which is critical for producing foundational materials for the UK economy.

40% of the UK’s cement and lime is produced in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The Peak Cluster would therefore significantly contribute to the region’s decarbonisation.

Together, the Peak Cluster and Morecambe Net Zero project stated in a recent study that they could create and safeguard 13,000 jobs. This includes:

• Over 2,000 existing jobs in the cement and lime industry

• Around 300 new jobs created at manufacturing sites

• 1,200 temporary jobs created for the construction of the pipeline and capture facilities