The conclusions from the independent assessment by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) who were commissioned by the Environment Ministry provided Mr Dusik with the grounds to reject the plans. The report confirms that CEZ’s proposal did not comply with Best Available Technology (BAT) in thermal efficiency and carbon monoxide levels and found that the plans did not meet the technical standards required. When Minister Dusik told his Prime Minister he could not accept CEZ’s plans immediately he was told that was impossible. Rather than accept this he resigned.
“It seems CEZ have destroyed a good man for trying to stand his ground. It is a dark day for democracy in the Czech Republic when a minister must do the bidding of a corporation or resign.”
said Jan Rovensky, Climate and Energy Campaigner with Greenpeace Czech Republic. “Now there is the very real threat of a CEZ puppet being brought in by the Prime Minister to complete the EIA process in favour of the corporation.”
A life extension for the Czech Republic’s largest coal-fired power station would represent a threat to the climate and the well being of people living in vulnerable countries. Objections to the plans have been raised by the Federated Sates of Micronesia (FSM) and local communities.
The FSM and a host of Czech experts argue that expanding and extending the life of the Prunerov II coal plant would fuel climate change which threatens the island nation. In a landmark process, the FSM requested a transboundary environmental impact assessment proceeding in order to ensure the impacts on the climate and local environment from the proposed project would be taken into consideration. It further demanded that the new installation should meet efficiency requirements laid down under Czech and EU law which would prevent carbon dioxide emissions of more than 6 million tonnes over the plant's lifetime.
Jan Srytr from ELS stated “This is yet another clear demonstration that it is energy companies which run the Czech Republic and not the government.”
Under Czech EIA law, CEZ was obliged to provide variations in their proposal which would meet European efficiency requirements, but CEZ ignored this obligation. CEZ also refused to provide assessment of the climate impacts of the project in the original EIA documentation.
The FSM used an option found in Czech law to raise its concern about the role of Prunerov II in exacerbating global climate change. FSM's government expressed the view that a negative statement should be issued unless the best available technology was used to raise the plant's net thermal efficiency to at least 42%.
Greenpeace is campaigning with Czech NGO Environmental Law Service for Prunerov to be shut down by 2015.
Contacts:
Jan Rovenský, Energy and Climate Campaigner, Greenpeace Czech Republic
Tel: +420 723 623 238, e-mail: 
Jan Srytr, Lawyer, Environmental Law Service
Tel: +420 775 154 087, email: 
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Notes for editors:
Background briefing: "Legal Request by the Federated States of Micronesia Concerning the Prunerov II Coal-fired Power Plant, Czech Republic" is available for download via the following link:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/teia_fsm