Environmental Inspectorate does not know whether the Thermal Power Plant meets environmental standards

The Environmental Inspectorate does not assess whether the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant meets environmental standards - acting Director General of the Directorate for Inspection Oversight Vesna Bigović told Portal ETV, but instead, as she explained, monitors „the implementation of measures envisaged by the Environmental Protection Study for the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant“.

- No recommendations have been issued by the Environmental Inspectorate, rather, in accordance with the Law on Administrative Procedure, the Inspectorate will implement measures enabling the enforcement of decisions adopted in the previous period, which relate to the elimination of identified irregularities - she emphasized in her response to questions sent by Portal ETV regarding the results of inspections at the power plant.

INSPECTION SUPERVISION

She also recalled that the ecological reconstruction of the Thermal Power Plant has not yet been completed and that it is being carried out „in accordance with the dynamic plan signed between the contractor and the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (Elektroprivreda Crne Gore – EPCG) AD Nikšić“.

- With regard to the ecological reconstruction of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, the Environmental Inspectorate has continuously conducted inspections in the previous period, based on submitted initiatives and regular inspections of EPC AD Nikšić – Pljevlja TPP Branch, and has undertaken appropriate measures and actions in line with the established factual situation - Bigović stated.

She added that the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPC) submitted a request to the „Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development for the Environmental Inspectorate to conduct an inspection at the Pljevlja TPP facility, with the aim of reviewing the final works on ecological reconstruction projects and preparing documentation to obtain approval for the trial operation of the plant“.

- On that occasion, it was determined which facilities covered by the ecological reconstruction had been completed by the date of inspection, as well as the measures previously undertaken by the Environmental Inspectorate to eliminate irregularities. These included ordering the preparation of a new Waste Management Plan and obtaining approval from the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as conducting an environmental impact assessment procedure for the new location for the storage of combustion by-products. In addition, following increased SO₂ concentrations in Pljevlja, an inspection was carried out on 14 December 2025, after which a decision was issued ordering the implementation of measures from the Environmental Impact Assessment Study for the ecological reconstruction of Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant I - namely, to put into operation the flue gas desulphurization plant and the nitrogen oxides reduction plant, with a deadline of 30 days from receipt of the decision - Bigović wrote in her response.

The Thermal Power Plant was put into trial operation on 30 November last year, after eight months of ecological reconstruction. However, after only about fifteen days, air quality in Pljevlja became alarming.

REDUCED NITROGEN OXIDE EMISSIONS

While citizens, as well as local authorities and institutions, identified the Thermal Power Plant as the sole culprit, the Electric Power Company categorically rejected such claims, although it admitted that trial operation had begun without the desulphurization and denitrification facilities.

A week ago, however, the EPC announced the start of „functional testing of the flue gas denitrification (DeNOx) plant at the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant“ and acknowledged that nitrogen oxide emissions were immediately reduced severalfold.

- During the initial tests, it was confirmed that the plant operates at a high level, and the initial measurements showed extremely encouraging results. Nitrogen oxide emissions have already been reduced to around 130 mg/m³, which is within the projected values and several times lower compared to the previous period, when emissions amounted to around 470 mg/m³ - the Electric Power Company stated.

Due to the alarming air quality in Pljevlja, protests were organized in the city in December. The Mayor of Pljevlja Dario Vraneš also reacted strongly and entered into an open conflict with the management of the Electric Power Company, which is led by officials from the same political party he belongs to. According to unofficial information, this further jeopardized his position and was decisive in the fact that even his party, New Serbian Democracy, or its key officials, no longer want him in that role.

The situation in Pljevlja was also discussed in the Parliament of Montenegro, and in late December a control hearing of the EPC executives and relevant ministers was held.

CRIMINAL COMPLAINTS

Independent councillor in the Pljevlja Municipal Assembly Saša Ječmenica and civil engineer Nenad Rubežić filed a criminal complaint with the Basic State Prosecutor’s Office for the unlawful commissioning of the Thermal Power Plant for trial operation after ecological reconstruction, that is, for falsification of documents, which they believe led to serious air pollution and endangered public health.

They are categorical that the EPC abused the institute of trial operation in order to put a facility that was not fully completed into operation for an indefinite period, without a legally prescribed permit. In this way, they claim, the EP gained unlawful benefit through the production and sale of electricity, while simultaneously endangering the health of Pljevlja’s citizens over a prolonged period.

On 17 December, URA party leader Dritan Abazović also filed a criminal complaint for the criminal offence of environmental pollution and abuse of official position. He submitted the complaint to the Special State Prosecutor’s Office against the President of the EPC Board of Directors Milutin Đukanović and board members, as well as Executive Director Zdravko Dragaš and Minister of Energy and Mining Admir Šahmanović.

In December, civic activist Pavle Čolović addressed world leaders, representatives of the UN, the EU, and international environmental organizations with an open letter requesting independent air quality monitoring in Pljevlja and an international review of the effects of the ecological reconstruction of the Thermal Power Plant.

The Electric Power Company rejected any responsibility for the enormous air pollution in Pljevlja and on 24 December called on „all relevant stakeholders, representatives of state and local authorities and institutions, as well as representatives of the non-governmental sector focused on environmental protection and sustainable development, to stop and prevent an unfounded campaign directed against the company and the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant“.

A week ago, however, the EPC announced that trial operation of the denitrification plant had already reduced nitrogen oxide emissions to „around 130 mg/m³“, which, as they emphasized, is „several times lower compared to the previous period, when emissions were around 470 mg/m³“. According to available information, the desulphurization system is still not operational.