A PEMBROKESHIRE company which is investing £1.6m in a major expansion has forecast it will create 100 new jobs when its new, purpose-built premises in the Haven Waterway Enterprise Zone are up and running.

Work is well under way on the new Main Port Engineering manufacturing facility on a 5.5 acre site at Warrior Way, Cleddau Reach, which is supported with £650,000 Welsh Government funding from the Economic Growth Fund.

Welsh Government support will create 30 new jobs and safeguard the current workforce of 155.

But company Director Jeff Harries said he anticipated the business will create 100 new jobs in total.

Main Port Engineering, which has been trading since 1990, provides a complete engineering service to the petro chemical, food processing, water treatment, manufacturing and power generation industries.

Economy minister Edwina Hart said: “This is really good news and a very welcome jobs boost for the region and the Enterprise Zone.

“Main Port Engineering operates in one of our key sectors and is an important employer in west Wales and I am delighted their significant expansion plans are supported through the Economic Growth Fund.

“Their new facility will secure the firm’s long-term future in Wales, enable the company to maximise the latest engineering technology, take on large, long-term contracts and create new skilled jobs. In addition, the construction phase will provide indirect benefits to the local economy through utilising local supply chains.”

Mr Harries said without “Ffunding support from the Welsh Government "was vital and without itwe would not have gone ahead with this project.

“We have had help, support and guidance every step of the way and it has been amazing. “This expansion will mark a new phase in our business and provides the space we need to grow and take a much more active part in the new developments in the marine and nuclear industry, as well as providing engineering solutions to other sectors.

“Like many companies in the area, our business was affected by the closure of the Murco oil refinery, however I am confident that we will create 100 new jobs at the end of this project and employ more than 250 people in total.”

Mr Harries added the company is also benefiting from the Welsh Government’s Enterprise Zone Business Rates Scheme and the money saved will help the company create new jobs and fund its their apprenticeship programme.

The new unit is designed to be able to accommodate overhead lifting gantries, allowing the company to service larger contracts. There will also be a dedicated area for trial assembly of large fabricated structures.