Nearly 360 jobs are to go if the ESB goes ahead with plans to close three power-generating stations in Wexford, Dublin and Kerry.
Unions at ESB were briefed today on the plans and will meet next Thursday to consider their views on the closures.
They say they will consider the plans in detail in the context of the Government White Paper on Energy.
The White Paper includes plans to transfer formal ownership of the national grid to Eirgrid, a move which is strongly opposed by unions.
David Naughton, secretary of the ICTU/ESB group of unions, said that the unions will not allow this to go ahead, saying it amounts to 'asset stripping'.
They believe it would reduce the value of the ESB by over €1bn.
However, Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan, said today that the transfer must go ahead, stressing that the national grid will remain State-owned.
Board approval
Management at the ESB today obtained board approval to close the three older power stations by 2010.
The move is part of an agreement with the Energy Regulator to reduce the ESB's dominant position in the market place.
In exchange for closing the stations, the ESB will be allowed to construct a new station in Aghada, Co Cork.
The power generating stations at Great Island in Wexford, Poolbeg in Dublin and Tarbert in Kerry are to close. The steam turbine at Marina in Cork is also to close but the larger gas turbine there will remain open. These plants currently generate 1,300 megawatts of electricity.
A new plant is to be built at Aghada in Cork Harbour with a capacity of 430 megawatts. This will bring the ESB's power generation share of the energy market to 27% by the year 2010 down from its current level of 44%.
Unions at the company accept that the plants are now out of date and would be due for closure.
