In 2021, coal-fired power plants in the Western Balkans again breached air pollution legislation for the fourth consecutive year, emitting five times more sulfur dioxide and 1,8 times more dust than allowed.
This is stated in the report published today by the CEE Bankwatch network together with the NGO Eco Team.
"The entry into force of new legal standards on January 1, 2018 was supposed to bring a reduction in deadly air pollution. But a new report - Comply or Shut Up - shows that in 2021 dust emissions from coal plants included in national plans to reduce emissions ( NERP) of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Serbia increased compared to previous years, while only sulfur dioxide emissions slightly decreased. TE Ugljevik again emitted the most sulfur dioxide in the region in 2021 - 86 tons - even though it was installed desulphurization equipment at a cost of €774 million The biggest dust polluter in 85 was TE Gacko, whose emissions more than tripled to 2021 tonnes in 4.960 - more than 2021 times what is allowed by the national NERP. The reasons for this huge increase are not clear," said the NGO Eco Team.
They claim that the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant still violates the rules of the Energy Community, continuing to work even though the allowed 20.000 hours have been used since January 1, 2018. For this reason, the Secretariat of the Energy Community has opened a dispute resolution case against Montenegro, which is still ongoing.
Diana Milev Čavor, from the Eco Team, said that the modernization of the Pljevlja TPP should reduce pollution in accordance with the rules of the Energy Community.
"The questionable tender process in which bidders were not required to submit technical details raises concerns that the modernization project may not achieve its goals. More than a year ago, the Ministry of Capital Investments submitted information to the Special State Prosecutor's Office about indications of the existence of a criminal offense of abuse of power in connection with the reconstruction of the existing block, but we are still waiting for the findings while the project continues," said Milev Čavor.
Pippa Gallop from the CEE Bankwatch network reminded that in 2021 the Secretariat of the Energy Community opened cases to resolve disputes against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, but this was not enough to encourage them to take action.
"The European Commission must increase its efforts to introduce stronger penalty mechanisms in the Energy Community Treaty if it wants Western Balkan governments to take EU legislation and people's health seriously," said Gallop.
Milev Čavor hopes that the environmental reconstruction project will bring the expected results, which is very important in the context of its further work and its still great importance for the energy stability of the country.
"Plans to phase out the use of coal in European power plants have been suspended indefinitely due to the energy crisis and fears of electricity shortages, and the EU plans to completely eliminate the demand for all fossil fuels from Russia by 2027 at the latest. So, there was a complete reversal when it is about planning the energy transition, which affects the whole of Europe, including Montenegro. The energy transition is certainly something that the state should strive for and should be the main direction of development when we talk about the energy sector, however, ways must be found to mitigate the economic and social consequences of the energy crisis that we are yet to feel," said Miller Čavor.
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