Environment

EC’s contracting parties to cap pollution from plants

Published

January 7, 2016

Country

Comments

comments icon

0

Share

Published:

January 7, 2016

Country:

Comments:

comments icon

0

Share

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine submitted national emission reduction plans (NERPs) to the Energy Community (EC) Secretariat by the deadline of end-2015.

This marks a highly important milestone in preparing for the implementation of the Large Combustion Plants Directive (as amended by Decision 2013/05/MC-EnC of the Ministerial Council), which is to commence on January 1, 2018. The directive sets maximum limits for three pollutants (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust), EC said. The NERPs, as an implementation option, set overall ceilings for the conglomerate of combustion plants brought under their scope, according to the press release.

The secretariat has nine months to analyze the plans and provide comments, if necessary. Furthermore, the directive allows operators of combustion plants to subject their installations to the so-called limited lifetime derogation via a written declaration by the same deadline. This means that for a maximum of 20,000 operational hours between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023, the plant can be kept in operation while not meeting the emission limit values of the Large Combustion Plants Directive. However, once the hours limit is reached or, in any case, from January 1, 2024, the facility must either be shut down or continue operating as a new plant – and meet the more stringent requirements on emissions into the air. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine informed the secretariat of such written declarations by operators in their territories. The EC Ministerial Council has to approve the list of opted-out plants.

 

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

Related Articles

Successful completion of the WISE serbia mentorship program trust, support, and personal transformation

WISE Serbia mentorship program successfully completed: trust, support, and personal growth

24 June 2025 - The first mentorship program of the WISE Serbia women’s network in sustainable energy, the green economy, and climate action was successfully concluded with an event held in Belgrade

Ireland ends coal use Spain Italy Greece set to follow

Ireland ends coal use – Spain, Italy, Greece set to follow

24 June 2025 - The last coal plants in several countries in the European Union are operating only barely or occasionally

Western Balkan coal plants cut harmful emissions 2024 breaches extreme

Western Balkan coal plants cut harmful emissions in 2024 but breaches remain extreme

19 June 2025 - SO2 emissions from NERP-bound coal plants in BiH, Kosovo*, North Macedonia and Serbia were six times above legal limits last year

serbia air quality ebrd loan sinisa mali sara pavkov Matteo Colangeli

Serbia secures EUR 50 million loan for air quality projects

12 June 2025 - The Government of Serbia has secured a EUR 50 million loan to be invested in a series of air quality protection projects