NuGen has announced that it is cutting more than half of the jobs on its troubled new build nuclear project at Moorside in Cumbria.
The company will axe over 60 per cent of its 100-plus strong team, which will be slimmed down to fewer than 40.
The posts to be shed were identified following a consultation exercise which was announced at the end of July.
The rump team will focus on supporting the sale by Toshiba of the project for a 3GW nuclear plant, which is designed to provide sufficient power to meet 7 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs.
A NuGen spokesperson told Utility Week that the cuts were distributed across the company and that chief executive Tom Samson remains in post to support Toshiba’s efforts to find a new investor.
The Japanese multi-national decided to dispose of its stake in the project last year after suffering massive cost over-runs on its US new build nuclear business.
Toshiba stripped Kepco of preferred bidder status for NuGen in July although it is still considering a sale to the South Korean utility.
A NuGen spokesperson said: “For over a year, Toshiba has pursued a sale of NuGen to Kepco. Due to the prolonged time it has taken reach a conclusion, NuGen has undertaken a review of its size and scale.
“An employee consultation process has concluded and on 11 September, NuGen staff were informed that owing to the protracted period of time it has taken to secure a way forward for the Moorside project, there would be a phased reduction in the headcount within the NuGen organisation.
“This consultation served to identify the posts that will be required to finalise and complete a transaction for the sale of NuGen and as a result, the team of over 100 will reduce to fewer than 40. NuGen’s retained core team will be focused on securing a sale of the NuGen business and supporting Toshiba’s activities.
“NuGen’s aim remains to deliver low-carbon, low cost nuclear power at Moorside and the company remains committed to delivering this for Cumbria and the UK. “
NuGen has nominated Moorside’s inclusion in the list of sites earmarked for new plants when the nuclear national policy statement is updated.