MORE job losses are on the cards for staff at Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station, with another 50 roles set to be axed this year.

The nuclear facility, originally closed down in 1993, is currently undergoing a decommissioning programme, which is set to last decades.

However, as the plant slowly closes down, more and more employees at the power station will inevitably lose their jobs, with the plant scheduled to completely shut towards the end of this century.

Last year saw nearly 100 people lose their positions, mainly contractors, and 2016 will see further job losses for core staff.

Although job losses are inevitable at the site as the power station moves into its “care and maintenance phase”, the loss of more staff will come as a bitter blow in a an area where positions for skilled employment are scarce.

When asked for an update on redundancy figures, a spokesperson for Magnox said: “As the decommissioning programme at the site progresses we will see variations in the skills and numbers required and, as projects within our programme move towards completion, the regular workforce will reduce in number.

“Our workforce numbers for this year will reduce from the current level of approximately 300 to around 250, in line with our previously announced workforce restructuring (May 2015).

“Looking forward, there will be further reductions as the site completes its programme of work.

“Wherever possible we are looking to make any reductions through voluntary means and we are also looking for opportunities in the wider parent body organisations (Cavendish Nuclear and Fluor businesses).”

In a faint glimmer of hope, there has been recent talk of installing a new smaller reactor in the former nuclear plant.

Darryl Williams from the Unite union welcomed the proposals and felt it would benefit the area.

“We would welcome anything that would keep local skills in the area,” he said.

If the proposals are given the go-ahead, it is thought the reactor could be up and running in 10 to 15 years.