English summary of the Prunerov case

CEZ,  a Czech power company, is planning a complex renovation of its lignite-fired power plant Prunerov II, which is the biggest industrial source of CO2 emissions in the Czech Republic. Prunerov II currently emits about 7.1 million tonnes of CO2 per annum. 

What is the problem? Well, CEZ is planning to modernize 3 of the 5 current blocks of the power plant (5x 210 MWe currently, 2x 210 MWe + 3x 250 MWe in the future) by using out-dated technology that would fail to reach the required level of “best available techniques” (BAT) as set out by the EU and Czech IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) legislation.  This legislation requires a minimum of 42 % net energy efficiency for the new power plant, while CEZ proposes only about 38 %.

In order to bypass this efficiency requirement (or in other words, an argument for using older technology), CEZ management is trying to portray the renovation of Prunerov II as a “retrofit”, i.e. modernization of existing plan (or installation), and not as a completely new construction of 3 blocks.

Their argument in favour of not using BAT is based on the aforementioned legislation that requires lower limits of efficiency for reconstruction projects than for projects involving the construction of new installations. However, from an analysis of IPPC legislation, this project will in fact build new machinery because all major parts (boilers, turbo set, generators, desulphuriser etc.) of the 3 blocks of the power plant will be totally replaced. There should remain only the steel structures of the boiler-room from the three blocks of the power plant.

CEZ’s current renovation plans regarding the Prunerov II power plant would lower CO2 emission from 7.1 million tonnes to 4.1 million tonnes of CO2 per annum; but if they used BAT, it would be lowered further to 3.8 million tonnes per annum. Although at first sight the difference between the two figures appears small, the overall environmental impact will be significant as CEZ plans to use this dated technology for the next 30 years. Overall, the difference will amount to 9 million tonnes of CO2. From this point of view, it is very important that CEZ uses BAT for the renovation of Prunerov II.

Lawyers at the Environmental Law Service (i.e. Czech public interest law NGO - www.eps.cz), together with Greenpeace Czech Republic (www.greenpeace.cz) are participating with EIA proceedings in order to promote the usage of the best available technology with a net energy efficiency of above 42%. The Czech Ministry of the Environment began the EIA proceedings  for the complex renovation of the power plant Prunerov II in June 2008.  The Ministry returned the EIA documentation back to CEZ to revise it because it poorly regarded the issue of energy efficiency (not BAT) in March 2009, but CEZ keeps refusing the requirements of the MoE.

The Czech EIA legislation contains a mechanism for trans-boundary assessment of plans which allows the involvement of countries that might be affected by a certain plan into the EIA proceedings (upon such a country's request). The Ministry, as the responsible public authority in the Czech Republic, considered the issue of transboundary EIA proceedings recently, but in the end decided not to notify any potentially affected states. However, On 3rd December 2009, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) requested the Czech Ministry to conduct a transboundary EIA of the plan for the modernization of the Prunerov II power plant, in accordance with § 11, article 1(b) of the Czech EIA Law. The Ministry says it will include Micronesia's objection into its final statement on the issue then.

In its viewpoint, signed by Adrew Yatilman from the Micronesian Office of Environmental and Emergency Management, the FSM state that according to a study written by Dr. Jan Pretel, a Czech climatologist and former IPCC member, Prunerov II's share of global CO2 emissions is 0.021%. The Pacific island state is worried that Prunerov, the Czech Republic's largest producer of greenhouse gases is going to contribute to its gradual disappearance due to global warming-induced sea level rise. Thus, in its viewpoint the FSM asks the Ministry to "issue a negative final statement on the environmental impact assessment of this plan".

 

Documents and articles: 

• Climate victims fight back /press release/

• Background information: LEGAL REQUEST BY THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA TAKEN AGAINST THE PRUNEROV II COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT, CZECH REPUBLIC /pdf/

• FSM Viewpoint  /pdf/

• Opinion by Peter Roderick - In the matter of the EU IPPC Directive, Best Available Techniques and the Prunéřov II power station /pdf/
  
  

• Czech ministry receives Micronesia´s letter on plant upgrading /IHNED.CZ/

• Micronesia objects Czech plant, due to sea level rise /AKTUALNE.CZ/

• Pacific islanders bid to stop Czech coal plant /REUTERS/

• A Pacific Island Challenge to European Air Pollution /THE NEW YORK TIMES/

• Small Pacific island challenges Czech plans to extend power station /IRISHTIMES/

• Small Pacific island challenges Czech plans to extend coal-burning power station /CZECH RADIO/

• Small Pacific island nation takes climate action against its 'neighbour' – in Europe /DAILY TELEGRAPH/

• Micronesia blasts coal plants /THE PRAGUE POST/

• Fighting carbon emissions half a world away /INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE/

• Czesi topią Mikronezję /GAZETA WYBORCZA/

• FSM opposes Czech power plant extension /RADIO AUSTRALIA/

• INTERVIEW-Tiny Micronesia takes on giant Czech power plant /REUTERS/

• Micronesia takes on giant Czech power plant /SUNDAY TIMES/

• Greenpeace protests against Czech power plant outside CEZ seat /CESKE NOVINY/

• Environmentalists to sue ČEZ /PRAGUE DAILY MONITOR/

• La centrale au charbon tchèque qui affole la Micronésie /LE MONDE/

• Micronesia Gets Power-Plant Review / THE WALL STREET JOURNAL/

• Environmentalists to sue Czech majority power producer /CTK/

• Micronesia targets Czech energy giant / THE PRAGUE POST/

• Green ministers not to join govt imminent anti-crisis steps /PRAGUE DAILY MONITOR/

• Czech Republic sees coal plant refit report in March /REUTERS/

• U.S. Lawyer Finds Europe Going Astray /THE NEW YORK TIMES/

• DNVs Prunerov assessment shows deviations / MARITIME & ENERGY /

• Environment Minister Dusík resigns over Prunéřov /CZECH BUSINESS WEEKLY/

• Minister resigns after pressure from PM over controversial power plant /ROZHLAS.CZ/

• Environment minister resigns over ČEZ power plant revamp /PRAGUE DAILY MONITOR/

• Federated States of Micronesia unhappy Czech Power station survives /RADIO AUSTRALIA/

• Greenpeace protests against Czech Prunerov power plant again /CTK/