Pljevlja: Air pollution up to nine times higher than permitted levels

Emission measurements from the boiler house in Skerlićeva Street in Pljevlja, managed by the municipal heating company Grijanje, conducted in March by the Center for Ecotoxicological Testing, showed serious exceedances of permitted limit values ​​for certain pollutants.

The results show that during the operation of the boiler room, dust particles and sulfur dioxide were emitted in concentrations many times higher than permitted.

The average half-hour value of particulate matter was 430,1 micrograms per cubic meter, almost nine times higher than the prescribed limit of 50 micrograms per cubic meter. A significant deviation was recorded for sulfur dioxide, whose measured value of 1.974 micrograms per cubic meter is significantly above the permitted 1.100 micrograms per cubic meter.

Emissions of total nitrogen oxides were below the limit value and amounted to 319,9 micrograms per cubic meter compared to the allowed 650 micrograms per cubic meter. Also, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) expressed as benzo(a)pyrene were within the prescribed limits.

However, it is also worrying that the average half-hour value of arsenic was 0,066 micrograms per cubic meter, which exceeded the limit value for this toxic element. Concentrations of the other metals tested, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, antimony, thallium and vanadium, were below the permissible limits.

These data gain additional weight in the context of previous decisions by the authorities. The Environmental Inspectorate had previously issued a decision to close the boiler house due to excessive emissions of harmful substances. At the end of December 2025, acting at the request of the company, the inspector extended the deadline for the execution of that decision by 60 days, with the obligation to take technical measures to reduce emissions during that period.

That deadline expired on March 12th, but the irregularities were not eliminated, and the competent inspection did not take additional measures. The heating season in Pljevlja ends on April 30th.

The Ministry then announced that, in the event of non-fulfillment of the decision, all responsibility towards heating users will be borne by "Grijanje" and the Municipality of Pljevlja, as the founder of the company.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of the Secretariat for Communal and Housing Affairs, Transport and Water Vule Macanović confirmed that the company and the Secretariat will request a new extension of the deadline from the Government and the Ministry of Ecology, i.e. to allow the operation of the boiler house until the implementation of the city heating project. According to estimates from people involved in the project, the heating could be completed in a year at the earliest, while estimates suggest that the work could last up to two years.

Macanović stated that during the heating season it was not possible to carry out more serious interventions on the boiler plant because the boilers are in continuous operation, and that major works are planned after the end of the season, on April 30th.

The possibility of replacing the existing coal-fired boilers with a pellet system, worth around 600 to 650 thousand euros, was also considered, but the Coordination Body for District Heating took the position that the existing boilers should continue to operate until the district heating system is completed.

The issue of the operation of the boiler house on Skerlićeva Street has been a subject of dispute between state and local authorities for months. Minister Damjan Ćulafić accused the local administration of not taking the measures it was ordered to take, while the mayor of the municipality Dario Vranes claimed that closing the boiler room endangers citizens because about 400 apartments, as well as numerous institutions and business premises, would be left without heating.

Tensions culminated in late December when hundreds of citizens gathered in front of the boiler house to prevent the inspectorate from enforcing the closure order.