Ukraine's coal-fired thermal power plants pollute the air the most in Europe, study
Ukrainian power plants pollute the air with ash dust emissions more than EU countries, Turkey, and the Western Balkans combined, environmentalists found.
Ukraine's coal-fired thermal power plants are leaders in air pollution in Europe. This was reported on Tuesday, May 25, by the Ukrainian public environmental organization "Ecodia" with reference to a new study by the international analytical center EMBER.
According to analysts' calculations, Ukrainian TPPs produce 72 percent of all ash dust emissions in Europe. This is more than similar power plants in EU countries, Turkey, and the Western Balkans combined.
Among the top 10 stations with the largest ash dust emissions, eight are located in Ukraine: Kurakhivska, Burshtynska, Trypilska, Luhanska, Zmiivska, Vuhlehirska, Slovianska, and Ladyzhynska TPPs. "Ecodia" notes that all of them were put into operation in the 60s and 70s of the last century.
Microparticles of ash dust in polluted air are the cause of about 80 percent of premature deaths related to emissions from coal-fired power plants in Europe, environmentalists add.
Burshtynska TPP - the dirtiest in Europe
By two other indicators - sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides - Ukraine produces 27 percent and 16 percent of all emissions in Europe, respectively. Thus, Ukrainian TPPs are leaders in polluting European air with sulfur dioxide and rank third among polluters with nitrogen oxides.
At the same time, Burshtynska TPP ranks first in terms of sulfur dioxide pollution and second in terms of ash dust pollution. It is the oldest among the top 10 air-polluting stations in Europe - it was put into operation in 1964.
The authors of the study note that since Ukraine joined the Energy Community Treaty in 2011, none of the Ukrainian TPPs have been brought into compliance with the requirements of EU Directives on emissions that pollute the air.