Tuzla Power Plant emissions exceeded limits by 12 times

Emissions from Block 4 of the Tuzla Power Plant reached levels up to 12.5 times higher than permitted during an environmental incident in late August. Official documents from the Federal Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Federal Administration for Inspection Affairs reveal that on August 22 and 23, concentrations of particulate matter at the facility's outlet ranged between 210 and 250 mg/Nm³, significantly exceeding the 20 mg/Nm³ limit.

The pollution was caused by technical issues following the annual maintenance of Block 4, which ran from July 15 to August 15. After the unit was restarted on August 20, difficulties arose in the pneumatic ash transport system, leading to ash accumulation in the electrofilters and the subsequent release of solid particles into the atmosphere. The technical problem was resolved on the evening of August 23.

Discrepancies have emerged regarding when authorities were notified. While the Ministry claims it first learned of the incident on August 24 through complaints from residents of Šićki Brod, the power plant did not officially report the increase in emissions until August 26. However, the plant's former director stated that a federal inspector had been notified of the technical issue as early as August 21.