Хорватияның Пломин электр станциясы

Croatian coal power plant

Plomin Power Station is a coal fired power station near Plomin, Croatia. As of 2021, its production corresponded to 7.6% of Croatia's electricity needs. The power plant consists of two boiler units: TE Plomin A, built in 1969 and shut down in 2018 and TE Plomin B, built in 2000. Both are operated by Hrvatska elektroprivreda, and the latter was co owned with RWE Power AG. On 28 May 2015, the contract signed by the two parties in 1996 expired, thereby transferring the thermal power plant into 100 percent ownership of HEP. They generate a total of 199 megawatt. In 2021 their total output was 1,459.1 GWh. Plomin Power Station has a tall chimney, which is the tallest constructed structure in Croatia.

Plomin A power station was built in 1969. It represents one of the two existing power plants at Plomin Power Station from Istria, Croatia. The capacity of Plomin A is 120 MW and it is operated by Hrvatska elektroprivreda. In 2011, the reconstruction and modernization of the plant was proposed and its incorporation into Plomin C power station.

The production unit Block B (TE Plomin 2) with a capacity of 210 MW was built and put into commercial operation in 2000. The plant was built under the company TE Plomin d. o. o as joint venture by HEP and RWE. On August 1, 2017, the company TE Plomin d. o. o. was merged with HEP d. d., and operations continue within the framework of the company HEP Proizvodnja d. o. o. The value of the investment is of EUR 800 million. The project was planned to start in 2013 and end in 2017 or 2018, but eventually was cancelled in 2016. Environmental NGOs affirm that, on the other side, it will increase the import of coal as the country does not have domestic resources, thus maintaining the external dependence. However, according to estimates, Plomin C will emit 2.644 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent. The neighbor country, Slovenia was also consulted on the early age of planning of the Plomin C that was expected to have environmental impact not only on Croatia, but on the whole region. After continuous consultations with the specialized institutions, the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment concluded that the project will not have significant effects on the environment and agreed on the construction of the plant. Hunton & Williams, a legal consultancy company, was hired by HEP to advise on international tender for the design, construction and operation of the power plant.

Zelena Akcija (Friends of the Earth Croatia) and Green Istria, supported by locals as well, submitted a legal appeal to the Administrative Court in Rijeka on October 29, 2012, against the Ministry of Environmental Protection to challenge the environmental permit that was approved by them for the construction of the Plomin C Thermal Power Plant. They demanded to stop any further activities related to the project progress until the Court comes up with a decision. The main reasons brought by the appealing party were the high CO2 emissions that will lead to worsening of the population health in the region as well as global warming effect and increased dependence on the imported coal. Furthermore, it will not allow Croatia to meet the conditions imposed by EU regarding the decrease of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This may affect even the economic side of the project as it may lead to the purchase of additional greenhouse gas emissions credits under the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. Prof. dr. sc Enco Tireli, a local expert, who worked for HEP for more than 20 years and was also construction manager for Plomin B, confirmed the fact that the project will not be profitable due to the additional payment for CO2 credits. According to EU goals, Croatia's total emissions will be in the range between 1.566 and 6.264 million tonnes Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) annually, while only Plomin C would emit 2.644 million tonnes CO2eq. Thus, there will be no reserves of CO2 emissions left for other sectors as industry and transportation. Zelena Akcija and Green Istria invoked that the assessment done by the Ministry did not consider in depth all the implications of the project on the human health and wellbeing. Also, Dusica Radojic, the President of Green Istria, pointed out that "the plans to build Plomin C are in conflict with the Istria County Spatial Plan, which clearly defines that any new unit at the site cannot exceed 125 MW and must run on gas, not coal”. The two associations stressed that “the consequences of such irresponsible approach will be supported by the local population, and the economic damages will have to be covered from the taxes paid by all citizens of Croatia”. Zelena Akcija and Green Istria hope that the Court will consider their arguments and cancel the environmental permit allowing the construction of the Plomin C coal power plant.