EU rules clarified on industrial plant emissions13 July 2010

Clearer rules and cleaner air are among the aims of the Industrial Emissions Directive, approved by the European Parliament last week.

Stricter limits will apply for air pollution from industrial plants, for example, although European member states will have some flexibility to extend deadlines for power plants or even to waive the rules for other installations in special cases.

The Industrial Emissions Directive updates and merges seven pieces of existing legislation, including directives on large combustion plants and Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) – the latter covering around 52,000 installations with a high pollution potential, from refineries to pig farms.

Holger Krahmer, the MEP responsible for guiding the legislation through Parliament, says: "After more than two years of difficult negotiations we have a compromise that will help to improve the implementation of the directive.

"Compared to the current situation, this offers more clarity and a better chance of a level playing field across Europe on environmental requirements for industrial installations," he adds.

Krahmer also clarifies the situation for nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and dust, where power stations are concerned: stricter limits will be introduced from 2016, although member states can use transitional national plans to allow large combustion plants (including fossil fuel power stations) up to July 2020 to meet the rules.

Some older plants may not have to meet the targets as well, as long as they close by the end of 2023 or 17,500 operating hours after 2016, whichever happens first. Newer power stations must still meet the 2012 deadline that applies to them.

"It is a European tragedy that a number of outdated coal-fired power plants will be allowed to pollute for another decade. This is also grossly unfair on the member states who took early action to meet the requirements," comments Krahmer.

Brian Tinham

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