Secretariat sends Reasoned Opinion to address non-compliance of TPP Pljevlja with the Large Combustion Plants Directive

On 9 February 2023, the Secretariat sent a Reasoned Opinion to Montenegro related to the non-compliance with the Large Combustion Plants Directive. The domestic thermal power plant Pljevlja continues to operate despite the expiry of its limited lifetime derogation under that Directive (also known as opt-out).

Operators of plants througout the Energy Community had the possibility to opt out their plants from the Directive’s compliance regime for up to 20,000 hours after 1 January 2018. Among others, this implementation alternative was granted to TPP Pljevlja by the Ministerial Council in 2016. Following the expiry of the 20,000 hours, the plants concerned can only remain in operation if they meet the (stricter) standards of the Industrial Emissions Directive. This is not the case for TPP Pljevlja. The operational hours available to TPP Pljevlja’s expired in 2020. The present case is already open since April 2021.

Interested parties may be granted access to the case file and may submit written observations on the present case. All requests for information should be addressed to the Deputy Director and Legal Counsel Dirk Buschle or +43 1 535 2222 24 and should make reference to the relevant case number (ECS-15/21).