Siemens to cut 2,700 jobs at gas and power unit

BERLIN (Reuters) - Siemens plans to cut 2,700 jobs at its gas and power company, in addition to 10,400 it is already shedding in its core units, the German engineering firm said on Tuesday.

Siemens said last month it was spinning off its gas and power business, which has acted as a drag on the firm's performance as the rise of renewable power hits demand for gas turbines.

The firm said on Tuesday the creation of a separate operating company had led to significant synergies. Job cuts were needed to readjust to the changing market, with 2,700 positions to go worldwide, including 1,400 in Germany, it said.

The cuts will primarily affect the projects and power transmission businesses as well as support functions.

The gas and power business needs savings of 500 million euros (£446 million) to improve competitiveness, Siemens said.

Restructuring would save 200 million euros, cutting support functions another 200 million and a new regional structure a further 100 million, it said.

The company will now begin consultations with employee representatives so the job cuts can happen in a "socially responsible" way, it said.

Siemens said last month it is targeting cost cuts of 2.2 billion euros by 2023 through cutting 10,400 jobs, mainly administration and support roles, at its remaining core units.

(Reporting by Emma Thomasson and Alexander Huebner; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Jan Harvey)