EU’s stricter pollution limits could cost Poland PLN 10 bln

The European Commission passed a new regulations which would force power plants to cut the amount of toxic pollutants they emit, including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury and particulate matter.  “Air pollution is the prime environmental cause of premature death in the European Union,” said Enrico Brivio, a spokesman for the European Commission. Under new, stricter rules, EU’s biggest combustion plants will have to drastically curb its emissions, a move, which could Poland up to PLN 10 billion. “We cannot accept such approach,” deputy minister of environment Paweł Salek said. Member states authorities will be able to use a derogation, or form of exemption, when costs would be disproportionate compared with the environmental benefits, Brivio said, while respecting environmental safeguards. The stricter limits will apply to all 2,900 large combustion plants in the EU, including coal-fired power stations and peat, oil and gas power plants, and will have to be met by 2021.