The Greek branch of the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) referred the Public Power Corporation (PPC) to the European Commission for the pollution levels of its electricity production plant at Aghios Dimitrios, close to Ptolemaida in northwestern Greece. WWF alleges that the plant’s emissions exceed the limits allowed and calls for substantial measures to contain pollution.
“The non-adherence to EU directives puts the lives of citizens at risk, as it contributes to the pollution of the atmosphere, that is related to diseases such as breathing problems, allergies and even cancers,” said Achilleas Plitharas, head of Campaign Policy in WWF Greece.
Besides the direct impact on human health and the environment, PPC has considerably contributed to the greenhouse effect, WWF says. This effect results from the burning of mined fuel such as lignite and causes the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the main factor overheating the planet.
“Our country’s energy production sector is responsible for 43 percent of the total CO2 emissions in the atmosphere,” said Dimitris Karavellas, WWF Greece director. “The plants using lignite, such as those at Aghios Dimitrios, Kardia and Ptolemaida, are responsible for the greatest portion of CO2 emissions. If we want to stop this overheating we must gradually use less mined fuel and more alternatives such as the renewable energy sources (RES),” he stated.
“The RES bill under discussion in Parliament is a significant step so that alternative forms of energy production start developing in Greece,” Karavellas stressed. “The draft law incorporates most of the essential environmental protection, but leaves the question of the location of RES power production plants unanswered, as the Special Zoning Plan about RES has not been made clear yet. Furthermore, the creation of the appropriate network for the use of energy from RES and the provision of incentives to citizens for the swift adoption of small-scale RES applications have to proceed quickly.”