Power station jobs under threat
270 jobs in Northern Ireland are at risk as two County Antrim power stations face closure.
Kilroot in Carrickfergus could shut as soon as May, with Ballylumford following suit in December.
It's after owner AES lost out on a lucrative contract under the new all-island Single Electricity Market auction.
The outcome threatens the jobs of all 150 AES workers onsite as well as 120 full-time contractors who are employed by local firms.
Joanne McWilliams, Regional Officer for Unite the Union has expressed shock and anger at the jobs threat:
“Management has indicated to us that critical generation units at both AES Ballylumford and Kilroot Power Stations have been denied contracts for supply under the All-Island electricity capacity auction. This decision will mean that the company cannot cover their fixed costs.
“As a result Kilroot Power Station in Carrickfergus now faces closure from the end of May 2018. This outcome threatens to make redundant all 150 AES workers onsite as well as the 120 direct, full-time contractors who are employed by local firms.
“Union representatives are calling on local politicians and the UK government to intervene in the decision of the All-Island regulatory authorities and transmission system operators not to award Capacity Market Remuneration (CRM) contracts to the units.
“This decision effectively shuts down 36% of Northern Ireland’s electrical generation capacity. Such an outcome will be a disaster for local jobs and security of supply."
MP for East Antrim, Sammy Wilson, says the closure would have massive implications for consumers, future investment and economic growth. He says everyone should be concerned about the continuity and price of electricity supply:
"Effectively there will be a 25% reduction in the supply of electricity in N.I. because consistently over the last number of years that is the percentage of electricity which was supplied to the grid by Kilroot.
He says a third of the normal electricity demand will now have to be met by wind but says that will be unreliable and there will therefore not be enough capacity to meet demand.
"Any power outages would be devastating for our strategy of attracting foreign investment into N.I. especially since many of the types of firms we are targeting are high energy users. Indeed the suggestion that the Utility Regulator and SONI have made a mess of this capacity auction and put in doubt future energy supplies will be damaging in itself.