Difference between revisions of "Greece and coal"

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(removed very old coal mining details and added legal requirement for power plant updates by 2021)
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In September 2017 the permitting process was challenged.<ref>[https://www.clientearth.org/clientearth-challenges-greeces-untouchable-coal-power-permits/ "ClientEarth challenges Greece’s untouchable coal power permits"], Client Earth, 14 Sept 2017.</ref>
 
In September 2017 the permitting process was challenged.<ref>[https://www.clientearth.org/clientearth-challenges-greeces-untouchable-coal-power-permits/ "ClientEarth challenges Greece’s untouchable coal power permits"], Client Earth, 14 Sept 2017.</ref>
  
==Coal Mining==
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==Air Pollution==
  
The International Energy Agency lists the major Greek lignite mining operations in 2005 as being:<ref>International Energy Agency, [http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2006/greece2006.pdf ''Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Greece: 2006 Review''], 2006, page 135. (Pdf)</ref>
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All lignite units that will operate in 2021 (including the not yet completed Ptolemais 5) will have to upgrade to comply with the EU Best Available Techniques manual (LCP BREF), which sets new, stricter emissions limits.
* Ptolemais (PPC) Western Macedonia 46.08 million tonnes with 1280.7 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 28 years
 
* Amyndaion (PPC) Western Macedonia 8.52 million tonnes with 165.3 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 19 years
 
* Megalopolis (PPC) Peloponnese 14.44 million tonnes with 251.1 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 17 years
 
* Florina (PPC) Western Macedonia 0.86 million tonnes with 138.4 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 161 years
 
* Drama Eastern Macedonia 900,000 tonnes
 
* Elassona (PPC) Central Greece 169,000 tonnes
 
* Komnina (PPC) Western Macedonia 100 ,000 tonnes
 
* Privately-owned mines Western Macedonia 2.02 million tonnes with 191 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 95 years.
 
  
 
==Subsidies==
 
==Subsidies==

Revision as of 13:44, 18 June 2018

{{#badges:CoalSwarm|Navbar-Greeceandcoal}} Greece is the second largest producer of lignite in the European Union after Germany, and most electricity is produced from lignite,[1] which supplies a third of Greece's energy.[2] The largest domestic coal producer is the government-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC), and hard coal is imported from South Africa, Russia, Venezuela, and Colombia.[3]

Power Generation

22% of electricity was generated from lignite in 2015.[4] PPC is attempting to sell 40% of its coal-fired capacity by 2019.[5]

Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations

Legal Action

In September 2017 the permitting process was challenged.[8]

Air Pollution

All lignite units that will operate in 2021 (including the not yet completed Ptolemais 5) will have to upgrade to comply with the EU Best Available Techniques manual (LCP BREF), which sets new, stricter emissions limits.

Subsidies

In 2013 the government spent 150 million euros subsidizing coal.[9]

EU coal phase out

Like all EU members, Greece has a legally-binding clean energy target. Greece is aiming for 18 percent of energy consumption to be from renewables by 2020.[10] EU policy makers and electricity companies consider investing in coal not to make any business sense compared to investing in renewable energy in Greece.[6]

Western Macedonia is a "Coal Region in Transition".[11]

Solar

The government is tendering for more solar.[10]

Wind

The government is tendering for more wind.[10]

Articles and Resources

Sources

Related SourceWatch articles

External Articles