Rome, 16th October 2006 - European Union Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs visited today the construction site of Enels Civitavecchia power station.
This is part of his visit to Italy which aims to promote the Green Book on energy policy.
Enel CEO Fulvio Conti described to Commissioner Piebalgs the project.
Once completed in 2008, Torrevaldaliga Nord project will be the most advanced clean coal power plant in the world with 1,980 MW capacity. The project has already won the Powergen Award.
Enel is investing 1.5 billion to convert Torrevaldaliga Nord from fuel oil to clean coal by adopting cutting-edge emissions-abatement technologies which go beyond the strictest environmental European regulations, even the future ones which will come in force in 2008.
Mr Conti stated: The new power plant will contribute not only to reduce emissions levels by up to 80% but it also increases the security of the Italian energy system. By promoting a more balanced fuel mix to produce electricity, Enel achieves increased energy security and cheaper energy prices for industries and consumers.
Mr Piebalgs said: Clean coal technologies contribute to the three core objectives of the new European Energy Policy: security of supply, fight against climate change and competitiveness of the European economy. The development of low carbon plants, like this one in Civitavecchia, should be one of the common EU objectives that the Commission wants to put forward in its EU Strategic Energy Review.