Residents living in the shadow of Wales’ last coal-fired power station are still in the dark as to when a mound of ash that used to cover their homes in dust will be removed.
Cardiff Capital Region Energy (CCR Energy), the company behind the new energy park, used to update residents about the project on a quarterly according to members of a residents’ liaison group.
However, one member said their last meeting was held in March 2025. The ash mound at Aberthaw Power Station will be dismantled as part of the wider plan for the site, but those who live nearby are worried about the impact this will have.
A spokesman for CCR Energy said: "CCR Energy has taken initial samples from the pulverised fuel ash (PFA) mound and the process of full testing has yet to begin."
"No decisions will be made about the mound until those results are available and have been robustly assessed. The findings will guide any potential future use and help shape next steps."
"We recognise the high level of local interest and concern around the ash mound. We remain in contact with residents and respond directly to any questions raised."
"We are committed to keeping the community informed through updates and mail drops when there is progress to share."
"While there is no new progress to report at this stage we want to reassure the community that we will provide full updates as the project develops."
However, removing the mound of ash could take a lot longer.
One company, Celtic Minerals, states on its website that it wishes to process the ash mound at Aberthaw. If it were to do so, the company said it could process 600,000 tonnes of waste ash per year. Celtic Minerals’ website also states that it is a project which could last 30 years.
Many residents in East Aberthaw recalled clouds of dust covering their homes and property when the power station was still in operation and PFA was being dumped on the mound.
With 17m tonnes of compacted waste ash waiting to be disturbed, many are fearful that their communities could be affected again.
At the time, global energy firm RWE was removing PFA from the site so it could be returned to agricultural use.
Residents said they had major concerns about the future of the Aberthaw ash mound after what happened during the quarry works.
Demolition company Erith was awarded a £30m contract to demolish the power station, but losing bidders Brown and Mason Group lodged a successful legal challenge over the awarding of the contract.
The city region abandoned its defence and settled with the company at the cost of £5.25m.
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