Plomin Power Station

Coordinates: 45°08′11″N 14°09′54″E / 45.13639°N 14.16500°E / 45.13639; 14.16500
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Plomin Power station
Stone coal
Power generation
Units operational1 x 199 MW - Plomin B
Make and model
Annual net output
1,459.1 GWh
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata
]

Plomin Power Station (

Plomin, Croatia. As of 2021, its production corresponded to 7.6% of Croatia's electricity needs.[1]

The power plant consists of two

megawatt. In 2021 their total output was 1,459.1 GWh.[1]

In 2011, the reconstruction of the Plomin A Power Station was proposed for a more efficient and safer functioning. The capacity of the new station, named Plomin C, will be of 500 MW instead the 125 MW of the old one, a fact that created ambiguities as it was mostly viewed as a new project rather than a reconstruction of the Plomin A plant. As a result, the Plomin Power Station capacity will increase from 335 MW to 710 MW. The upper limit of 335 MW was planned to be the maximum to be allowed at Plomin plant, an increase in capacity being possible only using gas rather than coal. However, the Croatian government supported the project, viewing it as “rational and cost effective”.[3]

Plomin Power Station has a 340 metres (1,120 ft) tall chimney, which is the tallest constructed structure in Croatia.

Components of the Plomin Power Station

Plomin A

Plomin A power station was built in 1969. It represents one of the two existing power plants at Plomin Power Station from Istria, Croatia. The capacity of Plomin A is 120 MW and it is operated by Hrvatska elektroprivreda.

In 2011, the reconstruction and modernization of the plant was proposed and its incorporation into Plomin C power station.[2] The Block A 125 MW production unit was completed and put into operation in 1970. As of January 1, 2018, the Decision on Unified Conditions for Environmental Protection (Environmental Permit) ceased to be valid, so Block A is an unavailable production unit until further notice.[4]

Plomin B

The production unit Block B (TE Plomin 2) with a capacity of 210 MW was built and put into commercial operation in 2000. The plant was built under the company TE Plomin d.o.o as joint venture by HEP and RWE. On August 1, 2017, the company TE Plomin d.o.o. was merged with HEP d.d., and operations continue within the framework of the company HEP - Proizvodnja d.o.o.[4]

Block B has been equipped with a flue gas desulfurization plant since 2000. The device for removing nitrogen oxides from flue gases was completed and put into operation in 2017. With the modernization of the low-pressure part of the turbine and the capital overhaul activities on other parts of the system carried out in 2017, an improvement was achieved in the internal degree of utilization of the turbine, which increased the nominal power of the turbo-unit to 217 MW.[4]

The connection of Block B to the electric power system was achieved with a 220/110 kV switchgear.[4]

Plomin C

Plomin C was a 500

power plant project to be built as a third unit of the Plomin Power Plant. The project was operated by the Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP) and it was presented as a reconstruction of the Plomin A Power Plant, even though its capacity is planned to be four times bigger than the previous one (125 MW). This has generated a lot of discussions on the legality and sustainability of the project among local and international groups, as well as from local officials.[5] The value of the investment is of EUR 800 million. The project was planned to start in 2013 and end in 2017 or 2018,[6] but eventually was cancelled in 2016.[5]

Description of the project

The purpose of the project is to reconstruct Plomin A Power Plant and to assure a safe long-term source of energy, as well as to decrease the dependence of the country on the imported energy. Croatia being a country that imports more than 30% of the consumed energy.

carbon dioxide equivalent.[5]

Legal framework

One of the first phases of the Plomin C project was that it had to be accepted by the Croatian government. Due to the necessity of additional energy sources, Ministry of Spatial Planning and Construction approved HEP's

Environmental Impact Assessment of the project in the middle of June, 2012. At the same time, the Environment and Nature Protection Minister, Mihael Zmajlovic, said that opting for coal instead of other raw materials was a „more rational and cost effective” way of operating the Plomin C. The newest technologies that would be used in the construction of the plant should assure that the environmental damage is minimal, pointed out the Minister.[9]
The neighbor country, Slovenia was also consulted on the early age of planning of the Plomin C that was expected to have environmental impact not only on Croatia, but on the whole region. After continuous consultations with the specialized institutions, the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment concluded that the project will not have significant effects on the environment and agreed on the construction of the plant.[10]

Hunton & Williams, a legal consultancy company, was hired by HEP to advise on international tender for the design, construction and operation of the power plant.[11]

Potential investors

As RWE the investor in the Plomin B did not express interest in joining this project, HEP was looking for a partner interested in Plomin C coal-based power plant.[12] RWE explained the decision by their current capital constraint, as well as adjustment of the company's strategy related to the composition of the European power plant portfolio. However, RWE said that it will support the project from its position of shareholder of Plomin B. By 14 September 2012, the date of application deadline, seven companies expressed their interest in Plomin C.[13] However, HEP short-listed only four companies, which were asked to submit their bidding offers by the end of 2012 year. The short-listed candidates are:

The selection was planned to end at the beginning of the second quarter of 2013.[14]

Zelena Akcija/Green Action sent an awareness letter to the four companies, informing them regarding the economic and environmental negative effects the project may have and the locals opposition against its construction.[15]

Environmental issues

Zelena Akcija (

Administrative Court in Rijeka
on October 29, 2012, against the Ministry of Environmental Protection to challenge the environmental permit that was approved by them for the construction of the Plomin C Thermal Power Plant. They demanded to stop any further activities related to the project progress until the Court comes up with a decision.

The main reasons brought by the appealing party were the high

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) annually, while only Plomin C would emit 2.644 million tonnes CO2eq. Thus, there will be no reserves of CO2 emissions left for other sectors as industry and transportation.[17]

Zelena Akcija and Green Istria invoked that the assessment done by the Ministry did not consider in depth all the implications of the project on the human health and wellbeing.[18] Also, Dusica Radojic, the President of Green Istria, pointed out that "the plans to build Plomin C are in conflict with the Istria County Spatial Plan, which clearly defines that any new unit at the site cannot exceed 125 MW and must run on gas, not coal”.[16] The two associations stressed that “the consequences of such irresponsible approach will be supported by the local population, and the economic damages will have to be covered from the taxes paid by all citizens of Croatia”. Zelena Akcija and Green Istria hope that the Court will consider their arguments and cancel the environmental permit allowing the construction of the Plomin C coal power plant.[18]

See also

  • List of chimneys
  • List of towers
  • List of tallest freestanding structures in the world

References

  1. ^
    ISSN 1848-1787
    . Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b . TE Plomin Archived 2013-04-04 at the Wayback Machine, Official site of HEP Proizvodnja
  3. ^ Coal-based Plomin power plant more rational, cost-effective[permanent dead link], Daily tportal website
  4. ^ a b c d "TE Plomin". HEP Proizvodnja (in Croatian). Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Plomin coal power plant, Croatia, CEE Bankwatch Network.
  6. ^ Cacic believes that new Plomin power plant will be finished in 2017, South East Europe Business Portal
  7. ^ Six bidders interested in Croatia's coal power plant, Reuters website
  8. ^ Reconstruction of TPP Plomin, Croatia, South-East European Industrial Market - issue 3/2012, September
  9. ^ Coal-based Plomin power plant more rational, cost-effective[permanent dead link], Daily tportal
  10. ^ Slovenia Agrees to Croatia Power Plant Plan, BalkanInsight webpage, August 10, 2012
  11. ^ Hunton & Williams Advises on €800m Power Plant in Croatia, Hunton & Williams website, August 17, 2012
  12. ^ Coal-based Plomin power plant more rational, cost-effective[permanent dead link], Daily tportal, April 13, 2013
  13. ^ Reconstruction of TPP Plomin, Croatia, South-East European Industrial Market - issue 3/2012, September
  14. ^ HEP short-lists four companies for Plomin C thermal power plant, Hrvatsko Izdanje - Dalje, September 28, 2012
  15. ^ Letters to companies shortlisted to bid for the Plomin coal power plant, CEE BankWatch Network, November 8, 2012
  16. ^ a b Croatian green groups mount legal challenge on "Plomin C" coal power plant, Zelena Akcija - Friends of the Earth, Croatia Website, November 29, 2012
  17. ^ Plomin coal power plant, Croatia, CEE BankWatch Network
  18. ^ a b Croatian Green Groups Filed Lawsuit against Environment Ministry over Plomin C TPP Permit, One World Platform for SouthEast Europe, October 31, 2012

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plomin Power Station.
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