IT was claimed last night that 80 jobs are to be axed at Ballylumford power station in Co Antrim.
Unite the union also warned that an additional 60 contractor positions are also at risk.
The union issued a statement ahead of an announcement expected shortly on the future of the plant in Islandmagee by owners AES.
AES also owns Kilroot power station in Carrickfergus, which it earmarked for closure earlier this year.
Davy Thompson, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer, said: "Last week Unite was notified of the likelihood of just over 20 job losses across Kilroot and Ballylumford however we are preparing ourselves for that number to rise substantially.
"We understand that approximately 80 AES employees are likely to be made redundant in the near future. Unfortunately they won’t be the only ones affected, we are estimating the knock-on impact in terms of job-losses on that scale could include an additional 60 direct, full-time contractors who work on-site.
"These redundancies will come as devastating news for those workers’ families at this time of year."
Mr Thompson said in the absence of a `contract to supply' under the current Integrated Single Electricity Market it was now "vital that the Energy Regulator intervenes to provide a `contract for capacity' as quickly as possible.
"All 250 AES positions and a further 120 direct, full-time contractors working at Kilroot and Ballylumford B face the prospect of redundancy if that is not forthcoming," he said.
