Current Affairs Environmental groups focus on local damage caused by controversial ČEZ power plant

Environment groups Greenpeace and the Ecological Legal Service held a press conference on Monday to stress what is at stake for tens of thousands of Czechs in the north-west of the country if power giant ČEZ is cleared to proceed with plans for a massive new power plant.

Micronesia They say the focus on Micronesia’s call for the climate change impact of the new plant at Prunéřov in raising sea levels have overshadowed the local damage caused by the plant.

Greenpeace Czech Republic’s Jan Rovenský: “ČEZ wants to enlarge the power plant and prolong its operation for 25 years, which is a quarter of a century. This particular plant is not only the biggest source of Czech greenhouse gases but also the biggest source of traditional emissions such as sulphur and nitrogen oxide which are harmful to people and nature.”

Petr Pakosta, deputy mayor of the small town of Hora Svaté Kateřiny, sited 25 kilometres downwind of the planned power plant at Prunéřov, says that ČEZ’s plans for the new plant mean continued exposure to cancer causing pollution.

The local environmental groups say ČEZ is pushing through plans for a more polluting and less efficient power plant in order to save money although they should by law be using the best available technology. They point out that the planned Prunéřov plant would have an efficiency rating of 38 percent while another new plant being constructed by ČEZ is a whole 4.5 percentage points more efficient.

Prunéřov power plant, photo: Petr Štefek, Wikimedia Use of such better technology would cut carbon dioxide emissions by half a million tonnes a year with major reductions in other pollutants.

“I think we can say in one sentence that ČEZ wants to save its money at the expense of local people and climate protection. And it is really strange that it is saying other options will be very, very expensive but it is not very detailed about this.”

The Environmental Legal Service has launched a legal challenge calling for ČEZ to come clean with figures on how much more it would have to pay for a state of the art plant.

Meanwhile both local opponents of ČEZ’s plans for Prunéřov and those some 6,000 kilometres away in the Pacific are waiting for a crucial verdict from the Czech Ministry of the Environment on whether the construction plans should be approved.

Jan Rovenský Greenpeace’s Jan Rovenský reckons state-controlled ČEZ has been taken by surprise by the strength of the opposition.

“ČEZ is the strongest and most powerful company in the whole of Central Europe and they are used to bulldozing anything that they want. So I think this case is something of a surprise for them because one state agency was brave enough to fight back and face them.”

The ministry’s verdict is expected within the next two weeks.