Rhodes plant staff to cost ESB €10m

THE ESB finally decided yesterday to close its defunct power plant at Rhode in Co Offaly next month and pay workers a voluntary severance package worth around €10 million.

The plant has not produced any electricity since a worker was seriously injured in an explosion in May 2001, but more than 100 staff have shown up for work every day since, costing the company €60,000 a week in wages plus other costs.

The 105 workers at the Rhode plant some of whom haven't worked for the past two years are set to get a package worth around €100,000 each before tax, depending on their years of service, when the plant closes on April 7.