For many people, the project’s significant progress and the significant costs incurred by the company seem to have settled the future of Elektrownia Północ. However, several well-known cases illustrate examples of companies withdrawing from coal-fired projects that were even more advanced in terms of investment progress.
The old power station in Ostrołęka, already in bad shape, needs to be closed in the near future. The new project has obtained all the required permits, leveled 85 ha of forest, and built a sewage system, water supply pipeline and a road. The modernization of railway track has also been initiated. Capital expenditure has thus far been estimated at a minimum of PLN 200 million, but another PLN 5-6 billion is needed for the project to be completed. Enea S.A., the company that owns the building, decided that they wouldn’t take this financial risk. Instead, a 400 MW gas-fired unit may be built. Mr. Roman Szyszko, Energa’s vice president for finance, announced that the company will “focus on those investments that assure optimum performance with respect to financial, energy, and environmental results, such as the development of a distribution network and renewable energy sources.”
The coal-fired power plant investments of Sweden-based Vattenfall, the company which had until recently planned the construction of a plant in Opaleń near Kwidzyn, won’t be built despite extensive investment. The company bought the site of the future plant, had the zoning changed, and a wildlife survey was done. The company also decided not to open two more coal-fired plants in Puławy and Siekierki. Eventually, Vattenfall withdrew from the Polish market. According to a company spokesperson, coal technologies are not the way to the future, yet on the Polish market, most electricity is sourced from coal. This is one of the reasons that the company eventually withdrew from the Polish market. In the future, the company plans to use technologies other than those associated with high CO2 emissions. The existing legal and financial conditions are not favorable for such solutions.
“Future energy,” according to a leading company on the German market, E.ON, includes decentralized and decarbonized energy.
Mr. Budzanowski, Poland’s Minister of State Treasury, said recently, “There was an investment craze among the energy companies. Plans assumed the construction of about 40 different plants. Poland does not need that many. Actual expenses will be much lower than the official plans, probably less than PLN 50 billion.” According to the Minister, the country’s priorities in the energy sector are mainly state-owned companies: cogeneration plants in Stalowa Wola and in Włocławek, power units in Opole, Turów, Jaworzno, Kozienice,
Blachownia and Puławy, as well as three smaller plants. The Minister justified Enae’s decision not to build the power unit in Ostrołęka by stating that the project was no longer needed, as other state investments will provide the necessary energy. Optimistic financial forecasts do not justify the completion of power units in southern Poland; however, the state will subsidize their construction if necessary.
According to information provided by the portal Salon24 – Independent Forum of Columnists, there is no chance to finish the construction. Thus far, almost PLN 100 million has been spent for project documentation that the company is now unsuccessfully trying to sell. One can assume that the chance to sell the project documentation would probably grow with a decision not to proceed with the power plant in Ostrołęka, which could be competition for Elektrownia Północ.
Regardless of the interpretation, to start construction right now, when there is no final, binding decision, would mean a high risk and the external financing investment would be difficult to obtain. The fate of the project does not necessarily have to be sealed by the court or by some state office. Perhaps common sense is enough.
A list of projects which won’t be built or will be built using technologies other than coal: gas instead of coal: the Zespół Elektrowni Dolna Odra power plant, the Cogeneration Żerań power plant, the Cogeneration Bydgoszcz power plant, the Blachownia Nowa power plant, the Puławy power plant, the Ostrołęka power plant; the Police power plant; biomass instead of coal: the Cogeneration Siekierki power plant.