ZAGREB POWER PLANT CELEBRATES 90TH ANNIVERSARY ( Editorial: --> 8642 )

( Editorial: --> 8642 ) ZAGREB, 8 Nov (Hina) - Zagreb can be proud of its 90 years of street lighting, which the city has since 7 November 1907. Only two days after the first City Power Plant started functioning, Zagreb's streets were illuminated by public lighting. The same day it was made operational (5 November 1907), the City Power Plant registered its first electric failure. In 1906, a decision was made to construct the first Zagreb thermo- electric power plant. A Prague-based factory of steam engines was chosen to construct the thermo-electric power plant, and the Budapest-based company 'Ganz' was chosen to design electric installations. The construction of the power plant started in February 1907 and were completed in a very short period. The residents of Zagreb got acquainted with electricity as early as 1882, when the House of Marksmen's Association was illuminated by a small 'house' power plant. At the end of the 19th century, several other public buildings and industrial facilities were electrified. At that time, Zagreb had a strong 'gas lobby', which opposed the electrification of the city, although as early as 1898 the city authorities planned the construction of a 'public lighting power plant'. The first director of the City Power Plant was Rudolf Vrbanic. (hina) rm 081622 MET nov 97