Government and Board Approval for 430 MW station at Aghada

The ESB has been notified by the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey TD, that he is prepared to grant approval for the construction of a new 430MW CCGT unit at Aghada, Co. Cork which will be designed, built, owned and operated by ESB Power Generation

The new plant is expected to be commissioned for winter 2009- 2010. Following the Ministerial approval the Board of ESB accepted the terms proposed by the Government in granting approval for the project.

This approval includes that the CER-ESB Agreement of 29th November 2006 must be fully implemented and future retention by ESB of ownership and operation of the new Aghada plant as an integral part of the Power Generation portfolio will be predicated on sufficient progress being made towards the delivery of this Agreement, to the satisfaction of the CER.

Secondly, it is intended that the output from the new Aghada unit will be sold to suppliers other than ESB PES under arrangements to be agreed between the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, the Commission for Energy Regulation and ESB in the context of the All- Island Market arrangements

At a recent meeting between ESB Management and Unions, Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, outlined the terms of the Minister's approval.