Workers of DOO "Grijanje" Pljevlja reacted to the statement of the Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development Damjan Ćulafić in which, as they say, he downplayed the efforts of the company and shifted responsibility for the inoperability of the boiler house in Skerlićeva Street to local structures and the Company itself.
In a statement sent to the media, they said that such claims are "extremely incorrect and untrue."
"Reading the minister's statement, we wonder if he is an employee of the Company or we, who work in the field every day and bear responsibility?" state the employees of "Grijanje".
They remind that in the previous period, the Company has invested significant efforts and implemented a series of technical measures aimed at reducing pollution.
"Thanks to funds from the Ministry of Public Works, three multi-cyclones of flue gases were reconstructed last year, while three flue gas fans were reconstructed this year," the workers point out.
The fact that these measures have yielded concrete results, according to them, is confirmed by the report of the Center for Ecotoxicological Testing.
"Last year, the level of particulate matter was as much as 20 times higher than the permitted limit values, while this year it was reduced to four times above the permitted limit. The same applies to sulfur dioxide, which was reduced from seven times above the limit to two times above the prescribed values," the response states.
"Grijanje" workers are particularly concerned about the minister's allegations about the failure to install two filters.
As they explain, the Company planned to install a bag filter, but did not receive state approval for it.
"We were told that there was nowhere to dispose of the waste from that filter, which is why we were forced to find an alternative solution, namely the installation of a multi-cyclone. So, it was one filter, not two," they emphasize.
The statement also states that Minister Ćulafić is only expressing concern for the health of citizens through the media.
"If this concern were sincere, the minister would have appeared at the meeting held on September 10, 2025, at his Ministry, which he personally scheduled," the workers say.
The meeting, as they remind, was attended by the Mayor of the Municipality of Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš, Secretary of the Secretariat for Communal and Housing Affairs, Traffic and Water, Vule Macanović, and Executive Director of DOO "Grijanje" Vlade Tošić.
"The Minister was aware of the fact that we had contacted the Ministry countless times and warned about the seriousness of the situation. If there had been a real will, he would have come to Pljevlja in person so that we could finally find the optimal solution for the citizens," the employees said.
Workers ask the minister if it is humane to leave citizens without heating during December.
"Among the users of our service are the elderly and infirm, as well as a large number of children. This decision has serious consequences," they warn.
Finally, they announced concrete steps.
"Employees of DOO 'Grijanje' Pljevlja, together with users of our services, will block the delivery of coal to the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant tomorrow, as the largest source of pollution in the city," the statement concludes.
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