The Sostanj coal-fired power plant connected its first gas unit to the power grid on Friday, a 42 Megawatt (MW) project that will improve the environmental footprint of Slovenia's largest power plant. Economy Minister Andrej Vizjak and Health Minister Zofija Mazej Kukovic applauded the achievement.
Vizjak said that the gas unit would boost the output of the fifth reactor of the plant. It will contribute to improving the environment and realizing Slovenia's goals from the EU energy and climate package.
Vizjak also underlined the importance of constructing the planned 600 MW sixth reactor at Sostanj. Asked where the state plans to find the required funds, he replied that the government would pour more money into the power plant also by selling the Hidroelektrarne na Spodnji Savi power producer.
The contract for the construction of the sixth reactor, which is to replace reactors one, two and three, is slated to be signed by the end of June.
Mazej Kukovic said that Slovenia was a land of tourism and that therefore all of its energy facilities needed to be environment-friendly.
The plant's director Uros Rotnik meanwhile said that the first gas unit is soon to be supplemented by another with the same installed power. He assessed the value of the investment at EUR 50m.
Sostanj had an installed power of 755 MW, covering up to half of Slovenia's energy needs. The power plant annually generates between 3.8 and 4.4 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity and 0.4 kWh of heat, using up 4.2 to 4.4 million tonnes of coal in the process.
More articles from this issue:
Archive
|