The European Commission (EC) took action to tackle pollution from Large Combustion Plants (LCPs) such as power stations and district heating plants, the EC announced on Monday.
Such plants are responsible for about one third of all air conventional pollutants from industry, the EC said, adding that more than 30 percent of EU citizens are exposed to air pollutant levels above EU standards.
It highlighted that air pollution remains the biggest environmental cause of premature deaths in the EU, leading to more than 400,000 such deaths each year.
"The adoption today of an implementing act by the Commission brings into effect 'Best Available Technique' (BAT) conclusions for Large Combustion Plants," the EC said.
"For all affected installations, around 3,500 in the EU-28, a review of their permits must now happen within four years so that by mid-2021 the emission limits set for all large combustion plants will be in line with the requirements of the BAT conclusions," the EC noted.
BAT refers to the techniques that achieve a high level of protection for the environment as a whole and are developed to a scale that allows implementation within the relevant industrial sector under economically and technically viable conditions.
The EC highlighted that BAT has been developed over several years in intensive collaboration with EU member states, industry and environmental NGOs.
(Anadolu Agency)
