On February 11th Minister for Regional Development Elżbieta Bieńkowska visited Jaworzno III Power Plant owned by Południowy Koncern Energetyczny S.A. (The Southern Poland Power Company). The government representative took a closer look at construction of the third line of exhaust gas desulphurization and construction of a slag storage yard. These investments are co-financed from EU funds. Previously Minister Bieńkowska was a guest of local self-government authorities.

In year 2006 The Southern Poland Power Company obtained subsidies for execution of investment projects co-financed from European Union funds. The company entered into five contracts receiving the total of nearly PLN 50 million in subsidies. The EU funds earmarked for support of investment in power plants: Jaworzno III, Łaziska, Łagisza, and Siersza, were obtained from the Sectoral Operational Programme "Improvement of the Competitiveness of Enterprises, years 2004-2006". EU subsidies enabled implementation of investment projects that resulted in an increase of power plants productivity and a decrease their negative impact on the environment.

The largest and the most funds consuming projects subsidized is construction of the third line of exhaust gas desulphurization system in Jaworzno. Construction works related with the project have been underway since April 2007 and will be completed in mid 2008. The investment constitutes a component of the company’s strategy and is currently one of the most important undertakings of the company executed as part of adaptation to strict ecological norms implemented by European Union. The system will have an output of 2 million Nm3/h and over 95 per cent of desulphurization efficiency.

Another investment within Jaworzno III power plant - slag storage yard – will be located near ash storage reservoir. Completion of the project that was commenced in year 2008 will result in reduction of pollution by means of implementation of safe, environmentally friendly and modern technology of temporary storage of slag and pyrites. Moreover, the new storage yard will enable shutdown of the existing storage area of 150 800 tons of waste per year in Mysłowice-Dziećkowice, eliminate repeated dusting, reduce and then eliminate infiltration by supersedimentary water to surface and underground waters.

PKE S.A. has even greater investment needs. A significant part of projects that must be executed is conditioned upon environmental requirements (ex. harmful gas emission limits), which must be complied with. As a result, during the current stage of programming (2007-2013), PKE shall also apply for subsidies for execution of further projects. The area in which the investment needs of the company are the greatest is Operational Programme “Infrastructure and Environment”, as part of which major investment programmes will be financed. This includes also undertakings addressed directly to the power sector, an in particular to environmental protection.

PKE does not limit its plans only to strictly investment-related projects. “We will certainly apply for funds for research projects as part of Operational Programme ‘Innovative Economy”, as well as training projects as part of Operational Programme “Human Resources”. The latter will contribute to development of potential and expertise of company’s employees - explains Jan Kurp, President of Executive Board of PKE.

Operational Programme “Infrastructure and Environment” is one of the largest in European Union’s history. The programme enables filing of an application for subsidies of 400% or even 500% - which is more than funds granted as part of subsidies for the period from year 2004 to 2006. "It is our hope to become the leader as regards the amount of obtained funding in the power sector" assures President of PKE.
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