Emissions of sulfur dioxide and powdery substances in Kostolac are lower than in the European Union and are in line with what the Energy Community has prescribed, said Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic after visiting the desulphurization plant in the Kostolac B block with Environment Minister Irena Vujovic.
– This is a clear message of how the Government of Serbia treats environmental protection and energy – she said and emphasized that the Ministry of Mining and Energy and the Ministry of Environmental Protection work together for the goal of green Serbia and green energy.
Mihajlovic reminded that four new laws have been adopted, as well as that a national plan for climate and energy is being prepared, as well as a strategy for energy until 2050.
– We are doing all this to have green energy and a minimum of 40 percent of energy produced from renewable sources by 2040. This does not mean that we will immediately shut down thermal power plants, but that we will do everything to reduce emissions to a minimum and lower than prescribed in the EU – she emphasized.
Speaking about the pollution of the Pek River, the Minister said that Zijin is only one of the polluters and that the competent ministries will go to the field with their inspections and determine who else.
– The Zijin company is doing what their task is, and on April 30, it will be checked by our inspection. However, that is not enough. We will determine who the other polluters are, and we believe that there are sewers there as well – she emphasized.
Answering the questions of the journalists, the Deputy Prime Minister also said that this is a year of important decisions in mining and energy, on the road to energy transition and environmental protection.
In accordance with that, she announced that no contract has been signed with the company Rio Tinto and that studies on environmental impact assessment are being prepared, and only after that, when every citizen of Serbia is familiar with everything, a decision will be made.
According to her, exploration rights mean that a company can, if it has fulfilled all the conditions, get the right to explore, but that does not mean the right to exploit an ore.
In order for a company to be able to conduct geological research in any part of Serbia, it must have the permission and consent of the landowner to do so, Mihajlovic explained.
She specified that the wells in the process of research are five to ten centimeters in diameter, and there is no reason for anyone to spread fear in people because of that. The research itself takes years to see if there are any conditions for exploitation at all.
Finally, as she mentioned, this research is important not only for companies, but also for the state, so that we know what resources we have at our disposal and how rich we are in some ore.
Minister Vujovic emphasized that flue gas desulphurization plants are of key importance for the reduction of pollution coming from thermal power plants, because they contribute to minimizing the emission of sulfur dioxide.
She explained that this is the first flue gas desulphurization system built in Serbia, estimating that the construction of such systems brings Serbia closer to EU standards.
According to her, what is extremely important when we talk about air pollution is that such plants lead to a reduction in pollution emissions, so that in one block sulfur dioxide emissions are reduced 115 times, and in another approximately 40 times.
The plant was built according to all European standards and has all the necessary approvals from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Vujovic underlined and added that the reduction of pollution from old and large plants is in line with the National Emission Reduction Plan (NERP), adopted by the government last year.
– We are fighting against air pollution on several parallel tracks, and not only when it comes to old and large plants. We are also fighting through the competition for local self-governments for the replacement of boilers of legal and natural persons, as well as for afforestation – the Minister explained.
The representative of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia, Miroslav Tomasevic, said that the trial operation of the mentioned existence was in progress, and that he expected the use permit by October.
He added that the plant is working at full capacity and is in accordance with all EU and our state regulations.
Environmental protection is one of the three priorities of the Government of Serbia
The Prime Minister of the Government of Serbia, Ana Brnabic, also visited the desulphurization plant in block B of TPP Kostolac and said that environmental protection is one of the three priorities of the Government.
Brnabic announced that in the coming period she will continue to present concrete results in the field of environmental protection, reminding that in 2014 the Government started the fight for a healthier environment in Serbia, when it decided to invest 130 million euros in the construction of a filter in TPP Kostolac, the first desulphurization filter at one of our thermal power plants.
– We have completed this desulphurization plant in block B, the construction of these plants in block A and block B in TENT is in progress – the Prime Minister emphasized.
The Prime Minister stated that 6 billion euros will be invested in wastewater treatment plants, and their construction will begin in 27 local self-governments, it was announced on the website of the Government of Serbia, eKapija reports.
