21-1-2013
Local community from Pelplin scored a major success in the dispute with the Elektrownia Polnoc power plant (EP) investor
Citizens of Pelplin, a commune in northern Poland, 60km from Gdansk, won a chance to reverse the final building permit for Elektrownia Polnoc (EP), a company owned by Kulczyk Investments - a holding established by Jan Kulczyk, one of the richest people in Poland. Read more »
29-11-2012
To be or not to be: The Elektrownia Północ power plant
Although Poland is slowly becoming a lonely island in its relentless fight to keep the coal-fired production of energy, it is mainly those investments in which the National Treasury is involved that are supported by Poland’s government. Elektronia Północ is absent from the list of the country’s most important investments that were enlisted by Poland’s Minister of State Treasury, Mr. Budzanowski. The fate of the units at Rajkowy remains undecided. It is known that at least seven other large coal-fired energy investments will not be built, or that they will instead utilize different technologies. Read more »
8-11-2012
No free CO2 emmissions for Elektrownia Północ power plant
The European Commission ruled on 13 July 2012 to provide temporary allowances amounting to over PLN 404 million for power plants in Poland. However, over 30 of the planned investments in the energy sector will not be financed this way, including the Elektrownia Północ power plant. Once these establishments are completed and operational, they may be entitled to free CO2 emissions allowances. However, as with other utilities, the money saved this way may only be spent on modernization and clean technologies. The Polish government accepted the decision and did not appeal the ruling. Read more »
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Who will construct the Północ power plant
The French company Alstom has been chosen as the main contractor of the Północ power plant. Alstom is infamous for numerous scandals, including cases of corruption. The company and/or its staff has been found guilty of corruption offences in relation to at least seven other cases. Alstom has been under observation by the Norwegian Finance Ministry since 2011 after its Council on Ethics recommended in 2010 to exclude Alstom from the Government Pension Fund Global. Most recently, the UK Serious Fraud Office charged Alstom Network UK with paying around USD 8.5 million in bribes between 2000 and 2006 to win transport contracts in India, Poland and Tunisia. Scandals and unethical business practices did not escape the notice of the civil society. In 2013 Alstom was nominated for the ‘prestigious’ Public Eye Awards, or the ‘award of shame’, for the worst company of the year.
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