Symbolic blockade at Chvaletice plant

Several dozen environmental activists engaged in a symbolic blockade of the coal power plant Chvaletice in north-east Bohemia to protest against an exemption that will allow it to remain in operation, despite the fact that it does not comply with all EU environment norms.

The three-day peaceful protest outside the plant’s gates ended on Friday. Protesters did not try to disrupt the plant’s operation allowing workers and traffic free passage. They argue that the plant is a serious polluter in the region and was to have closed in 2016.

The plant’s spokeswoman said on Friday that it was undergoing a modernization worth billions of crowns and already fulfilled 23 out of 25 strict EU requirements.