PGE GiEK has concluded an agreement with trade unionists from the Dolna Odra Power Plant

"Thanks to the shared determination of the parties, we managed to reach an agreement that takes into account the demands of the social side and the principles of responsible energy transformation led by PGE. The agreement was signed on October 24 by the management board of PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna SA (a PGE Group company), representatives of trade unions, and the management of the Dolna Odra Power Plant Branch," the PGE Group press office stated in a statement.

Employees of the Dolna Odra Power Plant, which is being phased out, will receive a compensation package estimated at approximately PLN 250 million. PGE announced that employees of this plant will receive severance pay totaling up to 30 times their average monthly salary, or up to PLN 400,000 gross per person.

"The process of reducing employment at the power plant will be gradual, meaning that some of the team will remain professionally active. At the same time, the decision to extend the operation of the Dolna Odra Power Plant and the two-stage shutdown of the coal-fired units until the end of August 2026 will ensure the continuity of energy supplies and the country's energy security," the press release stated.

In mid-September, PGE GiEK announced that the Dolna Odra Power Plant would be operating longer, with its units shut down in two stages. Two units are to be decommissioned by the end of 2025, while the remaining two are to operate until the end of August 2026. Previously, the end of electricity and heat production in the power plant's coal-fired units was planned for the end of 2025.

On Friday, it was announced that those wishing to remain professionally active will receive priority employment at other PGE Group companies and will be informed of vacancies before they are publicly announced. Those who do not wish to continue working for the Group will be offered one-time severance payments and a Voluntary Redundancy Program. Employees with up to four years remaining until retirement will be able to take advantage of energy leave. Under this leave, they will receive 80% of their monthly salary in accordance with the provisions of the Social Security Act.

Furthermore, it was assured that employees would receive a comprehensive information package on entitlements, qualification criteria, and procedures for joining individual support programs. Meetings with career advisors and labor market experts are also planned.

The PGE Group noted that ongoing and planned investments will create new jobs. It was emphasized that the investment program being implemented in Gryfino and the surrounding area is worth PLN 7 billion.

In early January of this year, trade unions protested in Warsaw against the closure of coal-fired power plants, including the Rybnik, Dolna Odra, and Łaziska power plants. PGE announced at the time that the decision to close the unprofitable coal-fired units at the Rybnik Power Plant and the Dolna Odra Power Plant in Gryfino had been made in 2020. It was noted that coal-fired electricity production at both plants was peak-rate, and the revenue generated did not cover the costs of production and maintenance.

PGE GiEK is a member of the PGE Capital Group. Its core business is lignite mining and electricity generation. PGE GiEK comprises seven branches located in five voivodeships.

The Dolna Odra Power Plant is a system power plant. It was built in the 1970s, and its individual units were commissioned between 1974 and 1977. It currently operates four units with a total installed electrical capacity of 908 MWe and thermal capacity of 91.15 MWt. This power plant is a must-run unit, meaning its operation is required for grid security reasons.

In 2010, the Dolna Odra Power Plant Complex became a branch of PGE GiEK.