The government has utilized flexible terms in European law, expiring tomorrow, concerning high-polluting power stations to secure a further extension for power utility PPC’s lignite-fired power stations, through additional operating hours, which, in some cases, could stretch as far forward as 2025.

Even so, the power utility insists this initiative will not change the corporation’s withdrawal plan for its lignite-fired power stations, according to which all existing units will be withdrawn by the end of 2023.

PPC, in an announcement, has informed that the additional operating hours secured for lignite-fired power stations will be used within the time limits of respective withdrawal plans that exist for units.

The power utility has avoided using its lignite-fired power stations to full capacity, even though they have developed into lower-cost options than natural gas-fueled power stations.

Under the current market conditions, wholesale electricity prices may have been lower if PPC used its lignite-fired power stations more frequently.

Greater use has been avoided by PPC as these units remain loss-incurring for the power utility given the increasing prices of CO2 emission rights and a variety of technical difficulties, sources told energypress.