PPC fined one million euros for excessive emissions

[Ellinas]

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The state-run Public Power Corp. (PPC) was fined one million euros for exceeding atmospheric pollutants emission limits, the Greek environment, town planning and public works ministry announced on Monday. The fine was imposed following environmental inspections at several power plants operated by PPC throughout the country.

"Climate change is a major global problem. Greece must observe the obligations it has undertaken under the Kyoto Protocol," said Environment Minister George Souflias regarding the decision.

Pointing out that the PPC accounted for 40 percent of carbon emissions in Greece, while also making a significant contribution to overall atmospheric pollution, Souflias said he had ordered environmental inspectors to carry out in-depth checks at all PPC facilities in the country.

The fines announced on Monday were based on the findings of these inspections, the minister added.

In a breakdown of the fines imposed, Souflias said power plants at Megalopoli, in the central Peloponnese, had been fined 400,000 euros for greatly exceeding hourly and daily limits for sulphur dioxide gas emissions considered safe for public health, while sulphur scrubbers at one Megalopoli plant had not operated for 31.1 per cent of the hours the plant was in operation in 2006, so it greatly exceeded sulphur dioxide emission limits.

The plant had also failed to monitor levels of sulphur dioxide, dust, nitrogen oxides and percentage oxygen at several of its units.

Fines totaling 600,000 euros were also imposed on power stations at Kardia, Ptolemaida and Aghios Dimitrios, all in Kozani prefecture of north-central Greece, because their dust emissions had exceeded daily limits for public health.

Souflias underlined that the ministry was determined to strictly enforce regulations for the operation of PPC power plants, adding that he had ordered environmental inspectors to continue their inspections of all PPC power plants, while evidence of transgressions would be immediately sent to prosecutors.

ANA

Caption: Power Plant in Ptolemaida, Macedonia

[Ellinas]

Villagers push PPC over smog

Residents of villages near two of the country’s worst polluting power plants in Kozani, northern Greece, yesterday revived protests about the alleged health risk posed by the sites after the government slapped a one-million-euro fine on the Public Power Corporation (PPC) for their operation.

Residents, who blocked conveyor belts carrying lignite to the plants, said they felt vindicated by the government’s action against PPC but insisted that more had to be done. Public services and schools remained closed yesterday. “Our protests will continue unless you limit your operations and start respecting the environment,” they said in a message to PPC. PPC has pledged to install new filters at local power stations by next spring.

“Local pollution levels are out of control,” a spokes-man for the protesters, Andreas Athanassiadis, said. “We want measures that will offer our children a better future,” he said. A study by Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University shows local children inhale the equivalent in pollution of 20 cigarettes a day.

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