WORKERS at a specialist plant near Poole are still in the dark about their futures.

As reported in the Daily Echo, around 50 skilled jobs are under threat at the National Oilwell Varco (NOV) site at Holton Heath, which is part of a multi-national company and specialises in manufacturing equipment for oil and gas drilling.

Last month workers were told in a letter signed by Marvin De Menezes, director of manufacturing and product supply for NOV, that the plant could close, with jobs likely to move to the Far East.

A consultation period was launched and the Daily Echo understands that so far one meeting with employees has been held.

A source inside the plant said that, following a merger with another firm, employees were told that jobs would actually be “stronger and safer”.

But the source added: “Marvin so far has been very cautious in what he says.”

The source also said that workers had learnt that it would cost 96 US dollars an hour to keep the Holton Heath plant open and places like Singapore or Dubai would cost around 85 dollars, not the 40 dollars they originally thought.

NOV, whose headquarters is in Texas, USA, has not responded to a series of requests by the Daily Echo for a statement.

In the letter that went to staff last month, seen by the Echo, Mr De Menezes said that alternative positions would be sought for staff “where possible” if the plans went ahead.

The Echo understands that if the proposals go through, the 48 redundancies would take place between the middle of August and middle of September.