used in the construction of the plant should assure that the environmental damage is minimal, pointed out the Minister. The neighbor country, Slovenia was also consulted on the early age of planning of the Plomin C that was expected to have environmental impact not only on Croatia, but on the whole region. After continuous consultations with the specialized institutions, the Slovenian Ministry of Agriculture and Environment concluded that the project will not have significant effects on the environment and agreed on the construction of the plant. Hunton & Williams, a legal consultancy company, was hired by HEP to advise on international tender for the design, construction and operation of the power plant. Potential investors As RWE the investor in the Plomin B did not express interest in joining this project, HEP was looking for a partner interested in Plomin C coal-based power plant. RWE explained the decision by their current capital constraint, as well as adjustment of the company's strategy related to the composition of the European power plant portfolio. However, RWE said that it will support the project from its position of shareholder of Plomin B. By 14 September 2012, the date of application deadline, seven companies expressed their interest in Plomin C. However, HEP short-listed only four companies, which were asked to submit their bidding offers by the end of 2012 year. The short-listed candidates are: Edison S.p.A. (Italy), Korea Electric Power Corporation - KOSEP (South Korea) Marubeni (Japan) Pol-Mot (Poland) The selection is planned to end at the beginning of the second quarter of 2013. Zelena Akcija/Green Action sent an awareness letter to the four companies, informing them regarding the economic and environmental negative effects the project may have and the locals opposition against its construction. Environmental issues Zelena Akcija (Friends of the Earth Croatia) and Green Istria, supported by locals as well, submitted a legal appeal to the Administrative Court in Rijeka on October 29, 2012, against the Ministry of Environmental Protection to challenge the environmental permit that was approved by them for the construction of the Plomin C Thermal Power Plant. They demanded to stop any further activities related to the project progress until the Court comes up with a decision. The main reasons brought by the appealing party were the high CO2 emissions that will lead to worsening of the population health in the region as well as global warming effect and increased dependence