TY - JOUR
TI - Ecological remediation of the Šoštanj thermal power plant with respect to sustainable development of the Šalek valley, Slovenia
AU - Petkovšek Samar Al Sayegh
AU - Poličnik Helena
AU - Ramšak Rudi
AU - Mavec Marko
AU - Pokorny Boštjan
JN - Thermal Science
PY - 2010
VL - 14
IS - 3
SP - 773
EP - 782
PT - Article
AB - The Šalek valley used to be exposed to huge amounts of pollutants due to its  close vicinity to the largest Slovene thermal power plant of Šoštanj (ŠTPP).  Due to large emissions of SO2 and heavy metals as well as dumping of fly ash  negative effects on the environment appeared (e.g. forest decline in area  exposed to deposition of emission by the ŠTPP, pollution of lake Velenje and  the river Paka). Therefore, several ecological remediation measures on the  ŠTPP were implemented in the 1990s, and several research projects on reasons  and effects of forest decline and degradation of environment began as well. A  continuous and marked improving of the condition of both forest and  freshwater ecosystems (of lake Velenje and the river Paka) after the  installation of desulphurization devices on Units 4 and 5 of the ŠTPP and  construction of a closed loop system for the ash transportation is emphasized  in the present paper.