HULL will soon learn if the £210m Siemens investment is going ahead, after Prime Minister David Cameron hinted a decision on Green Port Hull was imminent.
Mr Cameron yesterday visited Siemens in Lincoln and was asked about the energy giant's plans for a wind turbine assembly plant in Hull.
Answering a question over when a decision would be made public, he replied "maybe today, maybe tomorrow".
The Mail understands the supervisory board of Siemens was meeting in Berlin yesterday to discuss the proposed investment, which would see a £210m facility constructed on Alexandra Dock as part of the Green Port Hull development.
However, Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson said he did not expect the company to make a formal announcement in the coming days – despite what he thought had been discussed behind closed doors.
Speaking to the Mail last night, he said: "I am sure Siemens's supervisory board will ratify the Hull investment today but am less certain about whether they will make any public pronouncement.
"The public in Hull have become understandably sceptical about whether this huge project will ever get off the ground.
"I remain confident that it will but it would be nice to get that message from the company itself."
Hull East MP Karl Turner said: "I understand Siemens is meeting to discuss Green Port Hull and its future investment in the City.
"We have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that meeting of the Supervisory Board brings a positive announcement.
"I have personally spoken with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the past two weeks and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change this week to make sure that the Government is doing all that it can to assist.
"I know that people in the city are very anxious to hear good news but we cannot say what their decision is until Siemens have made one."
While Mr Cameron appeared happy to give a boost of confidence to those eagerly awaiting a formal announcement on the plans, he went on to make it clear any announcement would be made by Siemens and not the Government.
Councillor Steve Bayes, cabinet portfolio holder with responsibility for the Hull Green Port project, said the council was "not expecting to hear anything this month."
He said: "That's not to say something might be announced in August or September but, ultimately, it will be up to Siemens."
Plans to build a turbine facility in Hull were first proposed by Siemens in March 2010.
Ever since then, Hull City Council, local MPs and Associated British Ports, among others, have been working hard to seal the deal, which would create about 700 jobs in the factory and thousands more in the supply chain.
Pressure has also been mounting on the Government to help attract the energy giant to the city by proving its support for renewables technology after accusations it was not doing enough for investors looking to come to the UK.
However, official announcements have remained thin on the ground, prompting some to predict the scheme would not happen.
But last week many doubters saw their fears quashed when Business Secretary Vince Cable announced £18m of Regional Growth Funding to prepare a site at Paull for the offshore wind supply chain.
The news was welcomed by Siemens, which said the works "increases the potential for success of the offshore renewables industry on the Humber and in the UK generally".
Siemens yesterday declined to comment on the Prime Minister's remarks.
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