Polska Grupa Energetyczna

Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE SA or PGE Group, the name can be translated as Polish Energy Group) is a state-owned power company and the largest power producing company in Poland. PGE is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the WIG20 index.

History
The PGE Group has its origin in the establishment of Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A. in 1990. In 2007 the Transmission System Operator PSE-Operator was separated from the PSE. On 9 May 2007 Polska Grupa Energetyczna was established by the merger of PSE, PGE Energia SA and BOT Górnictwo i Energetyka S.A.

Operations
The PGE Group operates two large lignite mines and more than 40 power stations. Power stations are fueled mainly by hard coal and lignite. The company consists of eight distribution system operator companies, eight electricity retail sales companies, an electricity wholesale company, and enterprises operating in other industries (including the telecommunications).

Lignite coal plants:
 * Belchatow Power Station (5,298 MW)
 * Turow Power Station (1,898.2 MW)
 * Boruta CHP (36.3 MW)

Hard coal power plants:
 * Opole Power Station (1,492 MW)
 * Dolna Odra (1,567 MW)
 * Pomorzany (134 MW)
 * Kielce (10.8 MW)
 * Bydgoszcz I & II (231 MW)
 * Gorzów (32 MW)

Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations

 * Gubin Power Project
 * Lublin Power Station
 * Opele Power Station expansion (cancelled April 2013)
 * Turow Power Station 2

Proposed Carbon Capture and Storage project

 * Belchatow 2 Power Station

Proposed mines
In 2012 PGE Group said it might consider building lignite mines and power plants in the Lubuskie region, Western Poland, in a long term perspective, as the deposits of its current mine in Turow will likely be depleted within 30 years. PGE holds permits to explore lignite deposits in the region.

Europe and coal

 * Poland and coal

Background information

 * International Energy Agency, "Coal in Poland in 2005", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
 * International Energy Agency, "Poland", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
 * Walter G. Steblez, "The Mineral Industries of Central Europe: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia", 2005 Minerals Yearbook, U.S. Geological Survey, December 2007.
 * U.S. Geological Survey, Poland 2000-2005
 * European Environment Agency, European Pollutant Emission Register. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).