Main Port Engineering 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 underway on their new manufacturing facility currently under construction on a 5.5 acre site at Warrior Way, Cleddau Reach, which is supported with £650,000 funding from the Welsh Government's Economic Growth Fund.

Welsh Government support will create 30 new jobs and safeguard the current workforce of 155 over the next three years, although company director Jeff Harries said he anticipated the business would easily exceed these numbers and 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.

The new facility will improve efficiencies, enable the company to become more competitive and expand into new markets.

Main Port is currently working with the Welsh Government's energy and environment team to identify new opportunities in the marine and nuclear sectors.

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."

Jeff Harries said: "Funding support from the Welsh Government was vital and without it we 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 was also benefiting from the Welsh Government's Enterprise Zone Business Rates Scheme and the money saved would help the company create new jobs and fund their apprenticeship programme.

The new unit is designed to BREEAM standards and 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.

The existing offices on the new site will accommodate administration staff and provide a boardroom and training and conference facilities. The company also plans to invest in new IT equipment. The new facility is due to be ready in the autumn