KDE Energy on trade mission to Poland with Dutch Minister Bleker
On April 20 and 21 the Dutch Minister of Foreign Economic Affairs, Mr. Bleker, leads an economic and trade mission of 20 Dutch agricultural companies into Poland. KDE Energy Europe from Slochteren (Netherlands) is one of the selected companies. The wind farm developer with an office in Szczecin takes a change to refloat a jammed Polish project. Director Mr. Wolters: “We stand stronger as participant in an official trade mission.”
The official visit of Minister Bleker starts on Wednesday in Warsaw. For KDE Energy, represented by Country Manager Poland Mr. Hoiting, and six agrofood companies the mission started already on April 18 in Poznan with a dinner with Dutch farmers. On Tuesday April 19 there are several matchmaking sessions with Polish companies in agro-industry. The participants get to know potential business partners. On Tuesday night the delegacy returns to Warsaw. On Wednesday there are more matchmaking sessions and on April 21 they pay visits to Dutch fruit- and vegetable companies. Mr. Bleker closes the mission on Thursday night with a review of the past days.
Two goals for KDE
From 2006 KDE Energy is actively developing wind energy projects in Poland. Since the beginning of 2009 the full daughter KDE Energy Polska Sp.z.o.o. was set up. The team is based in Szczecin. Mr. Hoiting: “We have two goals with this trade mission. We hope to find new opportunities for wind farms in the region of Poznan with the matchmaking sessions. Besides that we hope to find a solution for one of our largest projects in Poland: Komarowo, in the community of Goleniow near Szczecin. Mr. Bleker can play a crucial role.”
Komarowo lies in a Natura 2000 area. The European Union has recently given the opening to develop wind farms in areas within the Natura 2000 Network of Protected Areas. A lot of nature studies have taken place by specialists. Their conclusion was unanimous: the 20 turbines don’t have a significant effect on flora and fauna in Komarowo. The local master zoning plan for the project has been approved in 2008. In 2010 KDE improved the plan based on the results of the nature studies. This proposed amendment has been negatively advised by the Regional Directorate of Environmental Protection. However, without any good argumentation.
On Thursday April 21 Minister Bleker has a meeting with the State Secretary of Environment Mr. Blaszczyk and the Minister of Agriculture Mr. Sawicki. Hoiting will attend the meeting to address the problem with the Komarowo project. “We hope this conversation will have a positive effect on the Polish decision-making process”, says Mr.Hoiting.
