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Outdated power plants in the Western Balkans pollute 6.6 times above the allowed limit

2026-06-23 14:35:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Outdated power plants in the Western Balkans pollute 6.6 times above the allowed

Eight years after air pollution control standards under the Energy Community Treaty came into force, pollution emissions in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia are 6.6 times higher than the permitted level, according to a new report by Bankwatch.

Bankwatch is the largest network of environmental organizations and human rights associations in Central and Eastern Europe.

The report, titled “Comply or Shut Down,” was published on June 23 and addresses the failure to enforce laws on sulfur dioxide (SO?) emissions from aging coal-fired power plants in the Western Balkans, which last year exceeded legal limits.

At the same time, dust pollution has also increased, reaching the highest level since the current rules came into force in 2018.

Coal-fired power plants in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been the largest emitters of SO?, with 196,940 tons, which is 12.7 times above the permitted limit.

Serbia ranks next with 177,756 tons, or 5.1 times above the allowed level.

Across the region, SO? emissions have only decreased slightly since 2018.

Emissions limits in 2025 have become even stricter than in previous years - which has led to even greater violations, the Bankwatch report says.

The largest SO? polluter in absolute values ??remains the Uglevik power plant in Bosnia and Herzegovina, even though it has desulfurization equipment.

Emissions in 2025, at 115,079 tons, were the highest since pollution control rules came into effect in 2018.

Dust pollution was 2.9 times higher than the permitted level in 2025, reaching the highest absolute and relative level since the rules began to be implemented in 2018.

This has been driven mainly by a large increase in the Bitola thermal power plant in North Macedonia, which has doubled emissions compared to 2024.

He alone has emitted more than 7,094 tons above the allowed limit for the entire region.

Gacko in Bosnia and Herzegovina also remains the largest relative emitter of dust. Despite a slight decrease compared to 2024, it emitted 15.1 times more than the permitted level.

As in 2024, total emissions of nitrogen oxides from power plants in 2025 were 1.4 times above the permitted limit.

Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia have exceeded the legal limits, while the largest emission was from Nikola Tesla B in Serbia - 11,247 tons.

The Plevna thermal power plant in Montenegro has undergone reconstruction in recent years and has been out of operation for most of 2025.

However, there is no evidence that it complies with pollution standards that would allow it to continue operating.

The Energy Community Secretariat has opened several infringement cases against Western Balkan countries, confirming the illegal operation of their coal-fired power plants.

However, no government has imposed fines on these power plants and there are no clear, up-to-date, and realistic plans for their compliance or closure.

The EU's Carbon Emissions Trading Mechanism (CBAM) came into force in January of this year, increasing the cost of exporting electricity and making coal-fired power generation even less profitable. /REL