The non-compliance of Western Balkan coal power plants with the emission limits enshrined in the Energy Community Treaty is reflected in the region’s high sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and dust emissions. This briefing looks mainly at the SO2 emissions between 2015 and 2019, and compares them to those of the then EU28 member states.
In 2019, the SO2 emissions of the 18 Western Balkan coal power plants were twice as high as the SO2 emissions of all the 221 coal power plants combined in the then 28 EU member states.
The results make an urgent case for the discontinuation of coal-fired electricity production as well as urgent improvements in pollution control for those plants which need to operate for a few more years.
Continue reading the full briefing here.