OREANDA-NEWS. March 27, 2015. The European Commission has referred the United Kingdom to Court due to the absence of a reduction in emissions by the Aberthaw coal-fired power station in Wales. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) at the power station were found to exceed the permissible limits.

Under EU legislation on emissions from large combustion plants, Member States had until 1 January 2008 to reduce emissions of a number of pollutants from power plants. The Aberthaw power plant does not meet the requirement of the Directive, as it currently operates under a permit which sets a NOx emission limit of 1200 mg/Nm3, as opposed to the legally applicable 500 mg/Nm3 limit set in the Directive. The Commission first raised its concerns in a letter of formal notice in June 2013, followed by a reasoned opinion in October 2014.