Uncertainty over 180 jobs as ESB agrees to sell two power stations

THERE is uncertainty over the future of about 180 jobs at the ESB, with the company reaching agreement over the sale of two of its electricity generating power stations.

The company said yesterday that it has reached agreement to sell the two assets — at Tarbert in Co Kerry and Great Island in Co Wexford — to Spanish energy company, Endesa for an undisclosed sum, believed to be in the region of €450 million.

While the ESB said the deal should be formally concluded before the end of the year, there is uncertainty over whether or not the 180 or so people employed across the two sites assets will remain in their current posts.

In a statement, the ESB said yesterday: “Negotiations between the ESB, its staff, their representative trade unions and Endesa will now commence with a view to dealing with all matters relating to employees affected by the sale.”

The sale of the stations — which roughly represent 20% of the ESB’s generation assets in Ireland — has been common knowledge for a number of months and last month, ESB chief executive Padraig McManus said that the process was progressing as planned with a preferred bidder lined up.

Bord Gáis, Airtricity owner Scottish & Southern Energy, and German energy giant E.on were all thought to be in the running.

However Endesa — one of the largest utility companies in Europe — has long since been seen as the favourite.

The two oil-fired power stations have a combined output of nearly 900 megawatts of power.

The ESB has also identified two more of its power stations — at Poolbeg in Dublin and Marina in Co Cork — in the same asset review which led to the Wexford and Kerry sales, but so far has made no decision regarding their futures.