The non-governmental organization (NGO) Eco-Team announced today that it expects a decision from the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community in the case of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant (TPP).
"After the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant spent the allowed 20.000 hours of operation under the 'opt-out' mechanism of the Large Combustion Plants Directive in 2020, Montenegro has been in violation of its obligations under the Energy Community Treaty for almost three years. During that period, the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant continued to operate without full compliance with the environmental protection standards applicable to plants of this type," the Eco-team statement states.
The NGO added that the Ministerial Council of the Energy Community will consider the draft decision in case ECS-15/21 on December 18, which will establish the official position on Montenegro's non-compliance and determine further steps that the institutions will be obliged to take.
"Montenegro, like other Energy Community member states, has faced challenges in fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty in previous years. As sanctioning mechanisms have not always been sufficiently incentivizing to ensure timely compliance, it is important that the decisions that are now coming strengthen trust in the entire procedure - that the obligations of states are clearer and that regulations are applied more consistently, so that all actors have clear and predictable conditions for action," emphasized Diana Milev Čavor, coordinator of the climate and energy program at the NGO Eko-tim.
The Eco-Team said that in the meantime, the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja power plant has been carried out, and that the plant is currently in a trial operation mode.
The NGO also stated that in the coming period it will be necessary to monitor whether the modernized TPP will meet the prescribed standards for air pollutant emissions, in order to ensure long-term compliance with European and domestic regulations.
"We expect that the decision of the Ministerial Council will contribute to a clearer direction of further obligations and a more equal application of rules within the Energy Community. We believe that the upcoming period, along with the trial operation of the reconstructed facility, will provide a clearer picture of whether the Pljevlja TPP can achieve the required emission standards and ensure sustainable operation in accordance with regulations," concludes Milev Čavor.
DON'T MISS IT
Bonus video:
