EU project expected to mobilize EUR 1.4 billion to tackle polluting household heating in Bulgaria
The European Commission has approved a EUR 16.7 million project to improve air quality in Bulgaria, with the EU contribution at nearly EUR 10 million. The LIFE IP CLEAN AIR project will be a catalyst for the mobilization of EU structural funding and national funds worth around EUR 1.4 billion in total to tackle polluting […]
Western Balkan coal power plants are health, economic liability for entire Europe – environmental organizations
Sixteen outdated coal power plants in the Western Balkans are a public health and economic liability for the whole of Europe, with people in the EU bearing the majority of the health impacts and costs, according to a new report by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), Sandbag, Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, CEE Bankwatch […]
Construction launched on flue-gas desulfurization systems at coal-fired power plant TENT A
The construction of flue-gas desulfurization systems has begun at thermal power plant (TPP) Termoelektrana Nikola Tesla (TENT A) under a EUR 167 million project. The project will reduce the coal-fired power plant’ sulfur-dioxide (SO2) emissions ninefold, from around 74,000 tonnes to 7,747 tonnes annually. The new flue-gas desulfurization systems at four units of TENT A […]
Kosovo* fails to implement emission limit values for coal-fired power plants
The Energy Community Secretariat has initiated a preliminary dispute settlement procedure against Kosovo* for the lack of transposition and implementation of legislation related to the emissions of large combustion plants. According to the Secretariat’s press release, the environmental legislation of Kosovo* aiming to curb emissions into the air fails to comply with the obligations under […]
Balkan Coal Costs Lives, Burdens Economies
Author: Vlatka Matković Puljić, Health & Environment Alliance (HEAL), Health and Environment Advisor for the Balkans As of 1 January 2018, the Western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) need to start reducing harmful emissions from large combustion plants and align national laws and rules with Energy Community requirements. This task comes with […]
Knauf accused of hiding pollution at its factory in Surdulica
The Knauf Insulation d.o.o. company has been accused of manipulating data on pollution at its rock mineral wool plant in the municipality of Surdulica in southern Serbia. Municipal Council chief Novica Tončev issued a written statement in late October 2017 expressing concern “over the untrue statements by the Knauf company about its rock mineral wool […]
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems to install flue gas desulfurization systems in the biggest Serbian power plant
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) will install flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems in the Nikola Tesla A coal-fired power plant (TENT A) in Serbia. The project worth EUR 167 million will help reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulates emissions, and enable Serbia to meet EU environmental standards. This is the first time MHPS has […]
What will it take to make Balkan leaders realise new coal plants are a liability, not a gold mine?
Author: Pippa Gallop, Research Co-ordinator, CEE Bankwatch Network In April this year, the EU proved that whatever difficulties it might be going through, it can still make momentous decisions. It approved new pollution control standards for power stations, entitled the LCP BREF (1) The name might sound obscure, but the results should be concrete: The new […]