Bord Gáis has officially opened its new gas-fired power station at Whitegate in East Cork today.
The €400m investment marks the company's first significant move into electricity generation. Up to 50 people will be employed at the plant once it reaches full production.
The new 445 megawatts plant provides power for 445,000 homes and at the peak of its construction, 800 people were employed on the site.
'The Whitegate power plant will add significantly to Ireland's security of energy supply while contributing to a cleaner environment,' commented Rose Hynes, Chairman of Bord Gáis.
After its 'Big Switch' campaign launched in February last year, Bord Gáis now has over 420,000 electricity customers.
