News

On May 31, 2011 at the Voivodeship Office in Olsztyn the Letter of Intent on the cooperation on the realization of the investments involving construction of the power stations and transmission lines in Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship was signed by the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship governor Marian Podziewski, and the representatives of the local authorities of Warmia and Mazury.

The letter was signed by the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship governor Marian Podziewski, Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship Board represented by the Vice-Marshal of the voivodeship Jarosław Słoma, and the member of the Voivodeship Board Witold Wróblewski, as well as the starosts of the Ełk and Olecko poviats, the president of Ełk and heads of 5 districts (gmina), where the investment was planned. The investor - Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne Operator S.A., was represented by the CEO – Mr. Henryk Majchrzak.

‘Construction of the power interconnection between Warmia, Mazury and Lithuanian Alytus is one of the most important investments of such types in Poland, but most of all, very important for the development of our region. Many investors withdrew from investing in our region due to the inability to connect to the sufficient power source. This investment will improve also our energy security.’ – said the voivodeship governor.

The representatives of government and local authorities of Warmia i Mazury decided to sign the Letter of Intent, in which they expressed their will to carry out the investment and define the basic principles of the cooperation of the voivodeship authorities with the investor. The Parties attach particular importance to reliable information about their investments, which is essential for social acceptance. As expressed by CEO of Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne Operator S.A., Mr. Henryk Majchrzak: The European Union supports the investment as it will close the power ring. Owing to this, EU funding was available for the investment.

Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship, especially in its eastern part, requires substantial investments in the electric power infrastructure. Lack of a closed transmission grid and of the possibility of a multilateral supply in case of failure is a real risk of loss of electricity supply throughout the region. In order to prevent such adverse events and minimize the risk of failure there are plans to build over the next five years two 400 kV transmission lines: Lomza – Elk and Elk – border of Poland with further connection with Alytus in Lithuania as well as extension of 220/110 kV station in Elk by a 400 kV substation. These infrastructure investments will foster the sustainable development of all districts and poviats,  and improve the supply of electricity for the inhabitants and all the receivers in the eastern part of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship. They will also create favorable conditions for the new investments. Investments are the element of the extension of the National Power System in the north-eastern Poland and are part of the power interconnection between Poland and Lithuania, which are partly financed within the Infrastructure and Environment Operational Program from the European Regional Development Fund. The program of extension of the Polish Power System contains 17 investments, including 5 realized in Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship. Total value of investments connected to the extension of Polish grid resulting from the construction of Poland-Lithaunia interconnection amounts to around 3 billion 320 million PLN. The investment will be realized in 2 parts and will finish by 2020. Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne Operator S.A. is a sole shareholder company of the State Treasury, which is responsible for ensuring the safe and economic operation of the National Power System and the development of the national electricity transmission system and the cross-border interconnections.