8 April 2009 - PGE, the biggest energy group in Poland and one of the biggest energy groups in Europe, signed with Alstom Power a contract concerning the retrofit of Unit 6 in the Belchatow power plant, Europe's largest and the world's second largest fossil power plant with a total installed power output of 4440 MW.

Alstom Power will provide modern equipment which will enable an increase in power output, economic efficiency and safety. This contract is worth approximately EUR160m ($211m).

"It is an essential project both for PGE Bełchatów Power Plant S.A. and for the entire Polish Energy Group. It will allow for a considerable modernisation of infrastructure in Unit 6, which will not only increase its power output and efficiency, but will also extend lifetime. In addition, a very important point is that the emissions of NOx and CO2 will be limited", said Krzysztof Domagała, President of PGE Belchatow Power Plant S.A.

The retrofit will allow the unit to work within the frame of the new regulations (Directive 2001/80/EC), with a 50 per cent reduction of NOx emissions and a reduction in CO2 emissions by over 400 000 tonnes/year, while ensuring a 20 MW increase in the unit's power output, increase the unit's efficiency to 41 per cent. Furthermore, the modernisation will improve availability and reliability, as well as extending the unit's lifetime by 20 years.

The scope of the modernisation covers the reconstruction of the boiler and its auxiliary equipment, replacement of high pressure and intermediate-pressure part of the turbine, increasing power output of the generator and installation of new high-pressure heaters.

"This is the first major integrated retrofit project in Poland and we are very pleased to be able to work on this unique opportunity", said Philippe Joubert, President of Alstom Power. "This project will benefit from Alstom's expert knowledge of turbine and boiler technology, our proven track record in integrated retrofit projects, as well as our position as leaders in clean power production."