The problem of air pollution

One of the main causes of air pollution

in Ukraine is energy production. And
the biggest polluter in this sector is
coal-fired power plants. They produce
about 30% of electricity in the country.

All existing coal-fired power plants in

Ukraine were designed by the Soviet
government, and the construction of
the "latest" TPPs was completed in
1976. Most of them operate without
proper dust filters and none are
equipped with equipment to remove
sulfur and nitrogen oxides. And since
part of the coal-fired capacity is also
used to produce heat for heating, such
plants are located in or near densely
populated areas of cities. This poses
an even greater danger to people's
health.
Unfortunately, the problem of air pollution in Ukraine does not receive adequate attention at Air quality monitoring station
the national and international levels. The air quality monitoring system in Ukraine is outdated, it
does not allow data to be accumulated in a single digital format and viewed in real time.

At the same time, the international community allows the extension of the terms of work for the
main polluters in Ukraine. In particular, the Council of Ministers of the Energy Community and
the European Commission gave the government of Ukraine six additional years to bring the
power plants included in the National Plan for the Reduction of Emissions from Large
Combustion Plants (NPCP) into compliance with the requirements of the Directive on Industrial
Emissions.

At the same time, Ukraine is delaying the implementation of measures to reduce emissions. In
July 2019, the government approved amendments to the NPSV, which set a longer deadline for
the modernization of certain large combustion plants (LCPs). These changes were not agreed
with the Secretariat of the Energy Society.

In addition, Ukraine is obliged to provide the European Environmental Protection Agency with
reports on pollutant emissions from the APU. However, the reported emissions from some TPPs
(Burshtynska, Kurakhivska, Dobrotvirska, Ladyzhynska) correspond to the exact number of the
limits established in the National Emission Reduction Plan. Such perfect randomness casts doubt
on the reliability of the data.
 The Government of Ukraine must take specific measures to reduce emissions from the
largest sources of air pollution - thermal energy facilities:
o The Government of Ukraine should as soon as possible solve
the problem of non-compliance of power plants with the
requirements of • the NPSV and keep the level of emissions
within the limits of individual permissible values. For this, in
particular, it is worth reducing the hours of operation during
periods of peak air pollution.
o The Ukrainian government should cancel all plans to build new
coal-fired power plants. The authorities should refuse to
provide state guarantees for the construction of a new power
unit at Sloviansk TPP.
o Ukrainian environmental protection authorities should ensure
thorough monitoring of air pollution in places where high levels
of emissions due to coal mining and burning are observed, as
well as provide the public with access to this data.
o All coal-fired power plants must implement continuous
emissions monitoring and publish the resulting data freely
available online.
o State authorities should develop long-term
plans that will support the development of
renewable energy sources, energy efficiency,
electrification of all types of transport, and
also monitor compliance with air quality
standards in populated areas.
o State authorities should develop long-term
plans that will support the development of
renewable energy sources, energy efficiency,
electrification of all types of transport, and
also monitor compliance with air quality
standards in populated areas.