The European Commission (EC) took action to tackle pollution from
Large Combustion Plants (LCPs) such as power stations and district
heating plants, the EC announced on Monday.
Such plants are
responsible for about one third of all air conventional pollutants from
industry, the EC said, adding that more than 30 percent of EU citizens
are exposed to air pollutant levels above EU standards.
It
highlighted that air pollution remains the biggest environmental cause
of premature deaths in the EU, leading to more than 400,000 such deaths
each year.
"The adoption today of an implementing act by the
Commission brings into effect 'Best Available Technique' (BAT)
conclusions for Large Combustion Plants," the EC said.
"For all
affected installations, around 3,500 in the EU-28, a review of their
permits must now happen within four years so that by mid-2021 the
emission limits set for all large combustion plants will be in line with
the requirements of the BAT conclusions," the EC noted.
BAT
refers to the techniques that achieve a high level of protection for the
environment as a whole and are developed to a scale that allows
implementation within the relevant industrial sector under economically
and technically viable conditions.
The EC highlighted that BAT has
been developed over several years in intensive collaboration with EU
member states, industry and environmental NGOs.
(Anadolu Agency)