The Environmental Inspection issued a decision on Monday ordering the commissioning of the flue gas desulfurization plant at the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant (TPP) within 30 days, the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development (MERS) announced.
The government department said that they had adopted a package of measures aimed at improving the current situation in Pljevlja, which includes the closure of boiler rooms in Skerlićeva Street and a recommendation to inspect individual furnaces.
They emphasized that, due to the significant deterioration of air quality in Pljevlja, they have taken all measures within their jurisdiction.
MERS said that the report from the Center for Ecotoxicological Testing (CETI) found that emergency emission measurements at the Pljevlja TPP plant showed exceedances of the limit values for total nitrogen oxides expressed as nitrogen dioxide (473,8 mg/m3) and sulfur dioxide (3249 mg/m3).
"Based on the report, the environmental inspector issued a decision on Monday ordering the subject of supervision to put the flue gas desulfurization plant and the plant for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in flue gases into operation, with a deadline of 30 days from the date of receipt of the decision," the statement said.
It is stated that the environmental inspection continuously conducted regular and extraordinary inspection supervision over the operation of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, both in connection with the current operation of the plant and within the framework of the environmental reconstruction project.
During the inspection, as stated by the Ministry, certain irregularities were identified, which is why the subject of the inspection was issued with decisions to eliminate them.
"In the regular inspection carried out on October 31st of this year, it was determined that the legal entity EPCG Nikšić - TE Pljevlja Branch did not revise the Waste Management Plan in accordance with the new Law on Waste Management, and that there were changes in the quantities and types of waste," the statement states.
As stated by MERS, a decision was issued on this occasion, ordering the development of a new Waste Management Plan and obtaining approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the decision.
They said that a deviation from the measures envisaged in the Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, which envisaged the transport of combustion by-products to the open pit of the Coal Mine, was also identified.
As stated by the Ministry, given the decision of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant to dispose of the waste at the Maljevac location, the environmental inspection ordered the implementation of an environmental impact assessment procedure for the new location for storing combustion by-products, with a deadline of 90 days.
"Following a report from the Environmental Protection Agency about increased SO₂ concentrations in Pljevlja, an extraordinary inspection was carried out on December 14, during which it was determined that the automatic emission measurement system (AMS) on the chimney of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant was not functioning," the statement says.
It is stated that on this occasion, an oral decision was issued ordering that the system be urgently brought into a functional state, which has been done in the meantime, as well as that urgent emission measurements be conducted through an authorized professional institution.
MERS said that, due to the failure to maintain the AMS system in a functional state, a request to initiate misdemeanor proceedings has been filed against the legal and responsible person in the legal entity.
"In order to contribute to resolving the situation in Pljevlja, the Ministry, within its competence, has adopted a package of measures that includes a decision on putting the flue gas desulfurization plant and the plant for the reduction of nitrogen oxides in flue gases into operation, with an implementation deadline of 30 days from the date of receipt of the decision," the statement said.
The Ministry said that the package of measures they adopted includes an order to implement all measures set out in the Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, as well as a decision to close the boiler house in Skerlićeva Street, which will remain in force as long as gas emissions exceed the permitted level.
The package of measures, as they said, also includes a recommendation to the local government of the Municipality of Pljevlja that, in accordance with its jurisdiction, the municipal inspection carry out an urgent inspection of individual furnaces and plants with a power of less than 1 MW.
"The ministry emphasizes that the problem of air pollution in Pljevlja has multiple causes, which include geographical location, climatic characteristics and changes, weather conditions, but, of course, also the already known impacts that are the result of human activity," the statement says.
Solving the problem of pollution, as they stated, requires coordinated action by multiple institutions, including other competent departments, local government, and the polluters themselves.
"MERS has fully utilized all mechanisms and powers within its jurisdiction and will continue, in cooperation with other institutions, to undertake additional activities aimed at improving air quality and protecting the health of citizens of Pljevlja," the department said.
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