Ground-breaking at Herdecke

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on 16 September to mark the start of construction of the new gas-fired power plant at Herdecke in Germany.

Just like the laying of the first foundation stone, ground breaking or “Erste Spatenstich” at a building site is an important event in Germany. The spade used is duly inscribed and the symbolism  of cooperation and joint effort is hard to miss. Both ceremonies are carried out according to a time-honoured ritual and at fixed stages of the building process. 

Representatives from the co-owners, Mark-E and Statkraft, as well as other prominent guests. From the left: Hans-Werner Koch (Mayor of Herdecke), Dr Friedhelm Fülling (CEO of Mark-E), Peter Demnitz (Mayor of Hagen and chair of Mark-E), Helmut Diegel (Arnsberg Regional President), Dr Rüdiger Bäumer (CEO of Mark-E), Ingelise Arntsen (Statkraft), Bård Mikkelsen (Statkraft), Ragnvald Nærø (Statkraft), Klaus Voges (CEO of Siemens PowerGeneration) and Dr Peter Klingenberger (Marketing Director of Wingas).