Siemens has suspended work on its 10MW Skerries Tidal Array project at Anglesey in Wales after the UK Government withdrew £10 million of funding earlier this year.

A grant pledged earlier this year to the company’s subsidiary Marine Current Turbines, which Siermens acquired in 2012, was withdrawn following delays in obtaining matched private sector funding.

In a statement, MCT said:

“Following discussion with our partners we have decided to suspend our work on the SkerriesTidal Array Project in Anglesey.We will continue to review our strategy for deployment. Our discussions with suppliers and other key stakeholders are ongoing on different opportunities.”

“We continue to believe that tidal energy will play an important future role in delivering the UK’s low carbon economy and creating long term sustainable jobs.”

The MP for Anglesey Albert Owen has called for the company to explain why they are suspending operations at the Array, which was scheduled to be installed in 2016 after MCT, which is owned by Siemens, obtained consent from the Welsh Government, Anglesey Council and Natural Resources Wales.