Hundreds of jobs are at risk at one of Dungeness’ nuclear power stations after its owners announced it will cut up to 1,600 staff across the country by the end of next year.

Magnox revealed proposals to axe agency, contract and permanent positions at 12 sites, including at its decommissioned Dungeness A plant on Romney Marsh.

The job cuts represent about 25% of its total staff numbers, although it is unclear how many people from Kent will be out of a job.

Just under 300 people are employed at Dungeness A, which decommissioned in 2006 and is undergoing interim care and maintenance until 2019, before the 80-year process of allowing the reactor to cool.

The move does not affect the active Dungeness B plant owned by EDF Energy, which is due to continue producing power until 2028.

“We know that the nature of the business is that we are working ourselves out of a job..." - Haf Morris, Magnox

Although staff at the plant were aware the longevity of their jobs were limited, it is understood many were surprised at the timing of the announcement.

Workers will be able to volunteer for redundancy, with cuts to be made by September 2016.

Spokesperson Haf Morris said: “We know that the nature of the business is that we are working ourselves out of a job.

“It was not unexpected but this offer has come sooner than expected.”

Magnox said the reductions in staff “arise from planned step downs in the work programme at a number of sites and the implementation of a more streamlined operating model for delivering decommissioning”.

It added: “We will seek wherever possible for these reductions to be through voluntary means and we will endeavour to re-train staff in roles where we are currently reliant on agency resources.

“We are now going through a period of formal collective consultation with our recognised Trade Unions and individual consultation and counselling staff before an appropriate best fit exercise begins.”

The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) said the Magnox restructure would save the taxpayer £1 billion compared with previous plans.

“It was always envisaged that many of these workers would be moving over to the nuclear new build sites as the work on decommissioning and clean-up is finished..." - Gary Smith, GMB

It added: “The NDA has been assured that efforts will be undertaken to mitigate the impact of any job losses through an emphasis on voluntary redundancy, reskilling and the potential for alternative employment in Magnox Limited’s parent companies, Cavendish Nuclear and Fluor Corporation.”

A consultation has been launched with unions.

Gary Smith, GMB National Secretary for Energy, said: “GMB will seek talks with Magnox and the NDA to discuss these job losses and the lack of progress on nuclear new build.

“It was always envisaged that many of these workers would be moving over to the nuclear new build sites as the work on decommissioning and clean-up is finished.

“GMB also has concerns that these job losses are the thin edge of the wedge when more job losses will follow the now expected Tory cuts the NDA budget next month.

“This is likely to lead to local people not getting the decommissioning they were promised. It is also a false economy as putting off the promised clean-up will make completing the work more expensive in the long run.”