NORTHERN IRELAND is set to suffer more than 200 job losses following the decision by an American investor to relocate operations to the United States.

Baker Hughes has “proposed” the closure of its long-established Hughes Christensen plant in east Belfast because of a continuing decline in its global market.

Hughes Christensen, established in Belfast in 1954, manufactures drill bits for the oil and gas industries.

The plant once employed more than 400 people.

In recent years jobs have been lost at its NI operations as business at Baker Hughes contracted in response to lower oil prices and the reduced spend in exploration.

Just three years ago the firm unveiled a £4.6 million (€5.3 million) investment plan for its east Belfast division. But last night it confirmed the plant no longer had a future. “Baker Hughes is announcing that it has proposed ceasing the manufacture of drill bits at its Hughes Christensen Belfast facility . . . this proposal will affect approximately 210 employees in Belfast,” the company said.

Baker Hughes intends to concentrate bit manufacturing at its Texas Woodlands plant.

The jobs blow comes as union officials in the North warn that jobs are under serious threat at the former Nortel Enterprise Solutions in Monkstown, near Belfast.

The division was recently taken over by US communications group Avaya.

Last month, Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster said Avaya’s acquisition of Nortel Enterprise Solutions would result in about 40 per cent of Nortel’s former workforce, 140 people, transferring to the US group.

But Sean Smyth, regional industrial organiser with Unite, said he has been told that Avaya plans to close the facility completely.

There has been no immediate response from Avaya.