COLOGNE, Germany, October 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Upgrading plant of RWE Power AG increases annual production by 500,000 tons - Demand on the up all over Europe

Rheinbraun Brennstoff GmbH (RBB), a subsidiary of RWE Power AG, has commissioned another bowl-mill crusher at its Hürth location near Cologne, which is worth €40 million. This increases the production capacity for dried and pulverized lignite which is marketed by RBB all over Europe under the product name "lignite energy pulverized" by a further 500,000 tons.

A plant of the same design was commissioned at a neighbouring location in 2008. Since then, demand for this particularly low-cost industrial fuel has increased considerably. Under the new umbrella brand "lignite energy", two more upgrading products made by RWE Power are offered: industrial briquettes as "lignite energy compact" and fluidized-bed lignite as "lignite energy grained".

Very different customers in industries with high energy needs - especially the lime, cement and paper industry as well as asphalt-mixing and drying plants - are already replacing hard coal, natural gas and petroleum products with "lignite energy pulverized". RBB is planning to sell more than 3 million tons of this fuel in the ongoing year - some 50 percent more than in 2009.

Cost advantages and security of supply are convincing more and more customers

The plant commissioned in July 2012 crushes the pre-dried lignite to a pulverized, fluid and clean fuel that is delivered by silo truck or railway tank waggon. Owing to the current energy prices, RBB is meanwhile able to supply customers well beyond Germany under economic conditions.

Today, numerous companies in France, the Benelux countries, the Alpine region and Eastern Europe are already benefitting from this fuel. In view of volatile energy and commodity markets, "lignite energy" offers features plant operators cannot find anywhere else: predictable prices, investment security, flexible supply and long-term availability.

For further information please visit http://www.rheinbraun-benelux.com or mail to energy.uk@rwe.com

Rheinbraun Benelux
Rolf Rodenkirchen
Industrieweg 14
B - 9032 Wondelgem

Tel : +32(0)9-340-55-29
Tel : +49(0)221-480-23293
Mobil: +49(0)17-32-56-00-45
Fax : +49(0)221-480-23294

E-Mail: energy.uk@rwe.com

SOURCE Rheinbraun Brennstoff GmbH