During the ceremony held on May 24 in ‘Energetyk’ Club the Management Board of Południowy Koncern Energetyczny S.A. signed a contract for the construction of biomass-fired fluidized-bed boiler. What is the reason for choosing Jaworzno for this kind of investment?

We carried out analyses on the boiler construction in other power plant within PKE structures. It turned out Jaworzno is currently the best location for such an investment. I wish to add that in Jaworzno we dispose of the old boiler but the turbine stays – therefore we already have a significant part of the power unit we are about to retrofit.

What is more, Jaworzno has been a crucial location for the power sector for a long time – we constructed first flue-gas desulphurizing installations here, we constructed first fluidized-bed boilers. Thus I consider it natural to choose this location for the construction of the boiler fired entirely with biomass – one of the first in the Polish power industry.

Will it have an impact on the city itself? It certainly will, as on one hand it means new working places, modern technology and the power pant future secures for many, many years and on the other hand such an investment will influence the communication system of the city. Nonetheless, I wish to emphasize that at present circa 200 thousand tons of gypsum mortar is transported from Knauf every year. Circa 100 thousand tons of gypsum is transported to the company. The volume of the material transported on the road network in the power plant vicinity is indeed significant. The ring road which is under construction will be of great help as we will have almost direct access to the highway. Therefore there will be no major problem with biomass transportation.

It is also my great pleasure to inform you that in the Official Journal of the European Union we placed an invitation to bid directed to all potential bidders who want to place their offers for the construction of 800 MW-class power unit in Jaworzno III Power Plant with due date of June 30. This investment is simply indispensable for Południowy Koncern Energetyczny to be able to operate in accordance to rules similar to present ones also after 2016-2017.

Jan Kurp