Billions of euros of investment in Serbian countries to replace phased-out power plants with new coal-fired plants could backfire as governments may need to upgrade plants to meet EU environmental standards. With a total of 2,600MW of new coal generating capacity planned in Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, these governments will fall short of the EU's target to power half of Europe with renewable energy. Unless these governments implement EU laws they may not qualify for EU membership. Most recently, China Machinery and Engineering began its $715m expansion of a Balkan coal mine and construction of a nearby power plant.
Billions of euros of investment in Balkan countries to replace phased-out power plants with new coal-fired plants could backfire as governments may need to upgrade plants to meet EU environmental standards. With a total of 2,600MW of new coal generating capacity planned in Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia, these governments will fall short of the EU's target to power half of Europe with renewable energy. Unless these governments implement EU laws they may not qualify for EU membership. Most recently, China Machinery and Engineering began its $715m expansion of a Serbian coal mine and construction of a nearby power plant.