Polnoc Power Station

Północ Power Station is a 2000 MW coal power plant proposed by Elektrownia Polnoc, an affiliate of Kulczyk Investments, for the Pomerania region of Northern Poland.

Location
Proposed location of Polnoc Power Station - approximate area only

Background
In December 2011, the company entered into a long-term agreement with Lubelski Węgiel Bogdanka SA for coal supply to Elektrownia Północ.

It is planned for the plant to be operational after 2016 at an estimated cost of EUR 3.1-3.8 billion.

Permits
In February 2014 Poland’s General Director of Environmental Protection (GDOS) ruled that an investment in the construction of the plant would jeopardize species of fish found in the lower reaches of the Vistula River. The General Director agreed with environmental and nature protection NGOs and affirmed partial invalidity of the coal plant’s environmental impact assessment permit (EIA).

On Feb 14, 2013, a Polish court agreed with local residents and landowners, backed by environmental campaigner ClientEarth, who argued that the regional government had not followed public consultation procedures in awarding a construction permit for the station, overturning the permit. Kulczyk Investment spokesperson Marta Wysocka said the judgment was a "technicality in the planning process," and the company would continue pursuing the project.

Environmental impacts
According to a 2011 Bankwatch report: "the Północ power plant is planned within five kilometres of three Nature 2000 sites. These are two Habitat Directive Sites: “Wacmierz” (PLH 220031) and Lower Vistula Valley (PLH220033) and a Bird Directive Site Lower Vistula Valley (PLB 040003). The impact on Wacmierz Habitat Directive Site has not been addressed at all in the recently concluded EIA procedure and both the construction permit, Greenhouse Gases permit and IPPC permit are being challenged by environmental NGO Client Earth in court."

Północ power plant yearly CO2 emissions are estimated to be over 13 million tones.

Financing
This project is not yet fully funded. Kulczyk Investments has sought funding from the following multilateral development banks:
 * European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
 * European Investment Bank (EIB)

Related SourceWatch Articles

 * Europe and coal
 * Poland and coal