Commitments made under the Energy Community treaty in October by Moldova, Ukraine and various Western Balkan nations oblige them to comply with Chapter three of the EU’s industrial emissions directive by January 2018.
According to Frank Bold Legal Consultancy, plans in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro could all violate the limits well before 2018.
This could mean a high risk of unpredicted additional costs to the investors in these plants, as well as consumers.
The law firm says, developers may have to scramble to make last minute technological adaptations to ensure compliance as 2018 approaches.
Potential health and environmental issues from the planned coal plants has already spurred protests in Ukraine.
The plants deemed most likely to breach the EU’s Industrial Emissions Directive are: Tuzla 7, Stanari and Banovici in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Pljevlja II in Montenegro, and Kolubara B in Serbia.
CEE Bankwatch Network spokesman Pippa Gallop said: “Balkan authorities had better be advised that countries wanting to join the EU can expect further environmental and climate legislation changes which will almost certainly affect their coal investment”
