24/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Tauron-KGHM joint venture. The European Commission granted cleared on 23 July to the proposed creation of a joint venture, Elektrownia Blachownia Nowa Sp. z o.o., which will construct and operate a new 850 MW gas-fired power plant in Poland, by the electricity producer Tauron Wytwarzanie and the copper producer KGHM Polska Miedz, both of Poland. The Commission's investigation confirmed that: - in electricity generation, the new entity will continue to face a number of credible competitors (PGE, EdF, Energa and ENEA) on this market; - possible vertical links with the activities of the two founding companies - particularly in relation to the electricity used by KGHM in copper extraction in Poland - will not give rise to competition concerns. Tauron mainly supplies electricity in Poland while KGHM and its competitors are active globally. In addition, KGHM's electricity needs in Poland are limited compared to Tauron's output. Notification of the operation was received on 18 June 2012. (FG/transl.rt)