Comply or Close 2025: Seven years of deadly legal breaches by Western Balkan coal plants
June 17, 2025
The end of 2024 marked seven years since the deadline passed for power plants in the Western Balkans to meet new air pollution standards.
Western Balkans: coal pollution increases due to government failures – new report
September 17, 2024
In 2023, Western Balkan governments’ dereliction of their law enforcement duties again allowed an increase in sulphur dioxide (SO2) pollution from the region’s antiquated coal power plants, according to the sixth edition of Bankwatch’s Comply or Close report, published today (1). Dust and nitrogen oxides (NOx) pollution from coal plants also continued to exceed legal limits.
Comply or Close 2024: six years of deadly legal breaches by Western Balkan coal plants
September 17, 2024
The end of 2023 marked six years since the deadline passed for power plants in the Western Balkans to meet new air pollution standards. Yet the deadly air pollution from the region’s mostly antiquated coal power plants has hardly decreased at all since 2018.
The cautionary tale of Montenegro’s emission trading scheme
June 6, 2022
In 2020, Montenegro received widespread praise for being the first Western Balkan country to introduce carbon pricing. Less than a year later, however, the scheme’s shortcomings were exposed. What can other Western Balkan countries learn from this experience?
Summary of the study: ‘Identification and analysis of potential sustainable heating solutions in Pljevlja, Montenegro’
October 25, 2021
In order to address high levels of air pollution in Pljevlja, Montenegro, the municipality’s heating supply must become more sustainable. Although Montenegro’s 2030 Energy Strategy proposes the development of district heating systems based on biomass,
Western Balkan coal power plants polluted twice as much as those in the EU in 2019
July 12, 2021
The non-compliance of Western Balkan coal power plants with the emission limits enshrined in the Energy Community Treaty is reflected in the region’s high sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and dust emissions. This briefing looks mainly at th
NGOs expect Energy Community infringement procedure on Montenegrin coal plant
April 19, 2021
Montenegro has recently confirmed that its highly polluting Pljevlja coal plant has exceeded its allowed operating hours under the Energy Community Treaty, yet no moves have been made to close the plant. This threatens to create a worrying precedent if not tackled.
Enthusiasm for coal starts to burn out in the Western Balkans
September 23, 2019
Enthusiasm for coal starts to burn out in the Western Balkans
Montenegro gives up building second unit at coal-fired plant, will focus on renewable energy
September 18, 2019
Montenegro gives up building second unit at coal-fired plant, will focus on renewable energy
Montenegro finally cancels Pljevlja II coal power plant
September 18, 2019
Montenegrin Premier Duško Marković announced that the Government is no longer pursuing the planned Pljevlja II lignite power plant, making Montenegro the first Western Balkan country to officially cancel a new coal project.
