Południowy Koncern Energetyczny SA is carrying out one of the most significant investments in Polish power industry – a 460 MW power unit. Transmission of power from the new power unit is the responsibility of Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne SA; however, PKE SA has undertaken to act as an investor with respect to building a power line connecting the unit with the domestic power supply system.

The project of 400 kV Łagisza - Rokitnica/Tucznawa of power line is managed by Energoprojekt Kraków SA. The company is responsible for preparing technical documentation of the line as well as all the activities related to obtaining the construction permit.

Apart from purely technical aspects related to the undertaking, it is necessary to obtain social consent for the investment. With regard to 400 kV power line project, Agencja Promocji Inwestycji (Investment Promotion Agency) is responsible for shaping the relations with the local authorities and inhabitants of communes where the investment is to be carried out. Declarations of the owners of estates affected by the investment have already been prepared and collected. The declarations are indispensable to ensure compliance of the titles of ownership with the excerpts from the land register and obtain permission for the undertaking.

There have already been several meetings with the inhabitants. Petitions for resolutions on introducing the investment into the study of the conditions and local land utilization plan have already been filed. Representatives of the agency participated in the meetings of commissions and council sessions organized by the communes. The events facilitated relationships with the chairpersons of particular village councils.

On 23 January, the Silesian Province Office hosted a meeting of two deputy province governors, heads of departments, representatives of District Office (Poviat Starosty), governors of towns and communes situated on the route of the investment and PKE, during which the interested parties had an opportunity to elaborate a plan of joint activities.

One of the first meetings with inhabitants of towns and villages, in the vicinity of which the line is planned to be built, was held on 22 February in Psary. The meeting was attended by more than 40 inhabitants, the head of commune of Psary Marian Kozieł, head of the village of Marian Kozieł, employees of Investment Promotion Agency accompanied by the president Andrzej Czajkowski and the representative of the investor Tadeusz Latos.

Owners of the estates affected by the planned route of the 400 kV power line, expressed their interest in numerous issues related to the investment – its possible influence on health and natural environment as well as change of land classification and decrease in the value of the land. Both Tadeusz Latos and Andrzej Czajkowski tried to clear all doubts. To explain all the threats and their scope in the best possible manner, the next meeting, which is scheduled for the beginning of March, will be attended by Dr Marek Szuba, a lecturer of the group of Electrical Power Engineering at Wrocław University of Technology.

Similar meetings are to be held in other towns and villages situated on the planned route of the line.

(DaW)