About us

Kaunas Municipality blocked the competition for the rent of Petrašiūnai Thermal Power Plant, in which seven Lithuanian companies had expressed their wish to participate. It is suspected that the competition was terminated after the Finnish-run company “Fortum Heat Lietuva” had demonstrated its interest in it.

The Committee of City Economy and Energy of Kaunas Council decided to amend the conditions of the competition for the rent of Petrašiūnai Power Plant and announce an international competition.

The Finns would like to build a biofuel- and peat-fired power plant at Petrašiūnai alongside with the waste incineration facilities. Should Kaunas politicians approve of the proposal of the Finns, the construction of the power plant is planned to be commenced immediately. The planned completion of the project is 1 January 2013.

“Such hurry is not accidental. Waste incineration is disturbing the stillness of investors too, as well as of some politicians because Lithuania has been assigned the EU support of 450 million litas for waste management for 2007-2013. Around 200 million litas of this amount is intended possibly for two waste incineration projects in Vilnius and Kaunas. Half of the funds of entire Lithuania is allotted to two projects”, stated Linas Vainius, the Vice-Chairman of the Lithuanian Green Movement.

 

 

According to Mr Vainius, waste incineration power plant is of high importance to the investor, whereas the residents are in uncertainty because this service is very expensive. Investor finds it profitable because the overall waste stream is directed to one company and the fee for waste incineration is charged just like for waste management.

“Waste incineration idea in Vilnius is supported and the project is driven by the company Rubicon group. Clear investor has explicit wishes. The potential investor into this project in Kaunas remains a mystery yet. Maybe it should be better to name that company and unveil what is concealed behind the project proposed by it?”, suggested Mr Vainius.

Finnish-run company “Fortum Heat Lietuva” is expecting a favourable decision from Kaunas Municipality any moment now.

“At least part of energy we should generate by ourselves, because at the present moment 96 % of heat is produced by Kaunas Heat and Power Plant, which uses gas of GAZPROM. This brings no satisfaction to us, thus, the biofuel boiler room is indispensible. Heat generation sources should start demonstrating competition”, stated Gediminas Žukauskas, the Chairman of Committee of City Economy and Energy of Kaunas Council.

Idea is Kept Dark

According to the representative of the Greens Mr Vainius, the stories in the public space concerning the new power plant, which will most probably be a biofuel- and peat-fired one, are at least weird. Any details of this project are still kept secret.

“City politicians are trying to present it as a project of renewable energy, i.e. biofuel project, even though waste incineration is what is being concealed behind. The public is probably not able to make sense what is meant: renewable energy, incineration of wood, chips, straw, peat blocks, or whether this flag conceals the waste incineration project”, asserted Mr Vainius.

According to the representative of the Lithuanian Green Movement, the European Commission is not recommending waste incineration any longer as the best waste treatment method.

 

 

According to Mr Žukauskas, the Chairman of Committee of City Economy and Energy of Kaunas Council, it is about to decide where the new power plant could be located. One of the options is Petrašiūnai, the other one is in the part of Šilainiai. Construction of the power plant at Petrašiūnai would be less expensive due to the existing heating routes. Such deliberations of city politicians raise surprise to energy experts.

“Up to the present moment it was all the time discussed in Kaunas that the power plant, which would use municipal waste, should be constructed in the territory of the current heat and power plant. Petrašiūnai area was planned to be used for the construction of a more compact small-sized and modern gas power plant”, said the academician Jurgis Vilemas, the chief scientist of the Lithuanian Energy Institute.

Territory of Petrašiūnai Power Plant, together with the surrounding area, is little by little getting rid of polluting plants, such as cast iron foundry and construction material companies.

“This is an especially valuable, picturesque and a precious place from the urbanistic point of view, with Panemunė forest nearby. In case no industrialisation of this place takes place, it is possible to turn the space into a high-class residential area. The city should keep well in consideration whether this location needs to be further developed energetically. Definitely, such a company is situated in the centre of Vienna; so this may be done also in Kaunas. But are there no better decisions? Should anyone raise me such a question, in my opinion, the first option that had been thought of, i.e. construction of such a company close to the existing heat and power plant, is a better one”, stated the academician Mr Vilemas.

 

 

Construction of waste incineration power plant in the city centre brings sceptical thoughts to the Greens, who refer to scientific research on the effect of waste incineration posed to environment and human health.

“During public discussions it may be heard of an example that in the city centre of Vienna, the capital of Austria, there is a waste incineration company. It is presented as a positive and anywhere suitable example without going deeper into all the circumstances, spoke Mr Vainius, the Vice-Chairman of the Lithuanian Green Movement. – Everybody is aware that waste incineration leads to highly dangerous emissions that are harmful to health and the science proved that long ago. It is said thus simple: waste incineration company is a landfill in the sky. Anything from such a landfill flows to our body, to our lungs.”

 

 

Finnish-run company “Forum Heat Lietuva” is planning to build a power plant in the thermal capacity of 60 megawatts and 30 megawatt for burning biofuel or domestic waste in Kaunas. These power plants only would not be sufficient to guarantee energy supply to Kaunas residents because the heat demand of Kaunas City integrated network is around 500 megawatts and more.

“Recently, it is attempted at increasing competition and creating heat market in Kaunas. There are discussions on a separate biofuel or waste recycling power plant. Its capacity would not be sufficient for the generation of required heat amount. Who and at what price would ensure the satisfaction of the remaining demand and reservation of capacities?”, asked Arvidas Ladyga, the Project Manager of Kaunas Power Plant.

Managers of Kaunas Power Plant put forward to Kaunas mayor Andrius Kupčinskas and Kauno energija a proposal how an effective combined heat and power plant project may be implemented, where varied fuel would be used: from the mixture of natural and synthetic gas, generated from biomass gas, to biofuel, domestic and industrial waste.

 

 

Moreover, Municipality is nominated for becoming a partner of biofuel and waste power plant. Kaunas Municipality or the heat supply company Kauno energija is invited to establish a joint venture and take part in the construction of a multifunctional power plant. Municipality or its company is offered up to 50 % of shares of a newly formed company. The power plant is planned to be built within the territory of Kaunas Heat and Power Plant. Project implementation complies with the Lithuanian National Energy Strategy.

Kaunas Power Plant consultant and technical supervisor, the company “Pöyry Finland Oy”, presented its decision on how biofuel, other local fuel and waste incineration facilities could be integrated into a combined heat and power plant.

As the Project Manager of Kaunas Power Plant Mr Ladyga states, such kind of power plants are likely to become more and more common because of more efficient use of power plant facilities (use of the same steam turbines, electricity generators, water is heated in the same equipment, etc.), existing infrastructure, reduction of investment costs and more efficient use of urban land.

“Decisions of the city politicians should, first of all, meet the expectations of city citizens of living in clean environment and paying less for the services received. Rise in the price of services (heat in this case) to consumers as a result of political decisions, which would lead to artificially created competition, would not be justifiable. Possibility to make use of various kinds of fuel allows retaining low heat and electric power prices at a stable level”, said Mr Ladyga.

 

Subscribe to our press releases

Enter your email address: