8th Dec 2004

Sir Reg Empey MLA Visit To Coolkeeragh ESB - the Most Efficient Electricity
Generation on the island .

Sir Reg Empey on a visit to Coolkeeragh ESB saw the new combined cycle gas turbine plant generate for the first time in excess of 400MW - its maximum output- onto the Northern Ireland electricity system.

The Coolkeeragh ESB plant is the most efficient plant on the island and among the most efficient in Europe .

The major construction work of the plant is now complete and it will start commercial operation in March of next year. In addition to the principal contractor GE Vatech, over 40 subcontractors and over 700 people, mainly from the local area, were involved in the construction of the power plant. Local subcontractors and suppliers have secured contracts valued in excess of £30 million in connection with work on the site

The Northwest gas pipeline is complete since mid-October and has been successfully supplying natural gas to the plant for its commissioning phase.

As the former Enterprise ,Trade and Investment Minister, Sir Reg Empey was one of the key players behind the Executive's decision to press ahead with the South/North and Northwest gas pipeline in the summer of 2001.

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