| The founding of the company
marked the ending of another long story. Various entrepreneur groups
had considered the idea of constructing a power plant at Birsfelden
since the late 19th century. Originally, the region had no need for
additional electricity, and the project was subsequently prevented
by poor economic conditions. |
|
Then came the Second World
War. Scarcity of fuels led to a substantial rise in demand and so
it was that concrete plans were at last laid for constructing a power
plant. In 1942, the two cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft
submitted their plans to the respective Swiss and Baden authorities.
A license was finally granted in 1950 and Birsfelden AG Hydropower
plant was founded on August 29, 1950, by the privately-owned companies
of Elektra Baselland, in Liestal, and Elektra Birseck, in Münchenstein.
Today, Birsfelden hydropower plant generates some 17 per cent of the
overall power needs of the Greater Basel Region. |
