Tosoh Hellas hosts High-Level Delegation from North Macedonian Ministry of Environment in EU-Funded Twinning Project on Industrial Pollution
A delegation from the Ministry of Environment of North Macedonia visited in May the facilities of Tosoh Hellas in Thessaloniki Industrial Area (Sindos), as part of the EU-funded Twinning project titled "Further Strengthening the Capacities for Effective Implementation of the Acquis in the Field of Industrial Pollution - MK 20 IPA EN 02 22." This initiative is implemented by the Centre of International and European Economic Law (CIEEL), in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Region of Central Macedonia, the Decentralised Administration of Macedonia and Thrace, and the Regional Unit of Kastoria.
Ms. Besa Tateshi, Head of the IPPC Unit of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia, emphasized the significance of Twinning projects, stating, “Twinning, a powerful instrument of the European Union for institutional cooperation, fosters collaboration between public administrations of EU Member States and beneficiary or partner countries. The overarching goal of such projects is to achieve tangible operational results through peer-to-peer activities. In this case, the specific focus is on harmonizing North Macedonia's legislation on industrial emissions with relevant EU Directives.”
During the visit, high-ranking officials from various departments of the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of North Macedonia had the opportunity to observe firsthand the operations of installations falling within the scope of the EU Industrial Emissions Directive (IED, 2010/75/EU). The aim was to gain practical insights into the implementation of this directive, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of best practices in the field.
Mr. Grigoris Kalampoukas, the Resident Twinning Adviser, underscored the importance of the visit, stating, "After the successful 1st study visit to Athens within the framework of the Twinning program, the 2nd study visit to Greece gave participants the opportunity to visit a number of industrial activities and agencies involved in the implementation of the EU IED Directive. This facilitated firsthand observation of its implementation in practice and the transfer of crucial know-how in the field of environmental protection. The visit to the Tosoh Hellas facility was very constructive; a detailed presentation was given on the environmental protection measures resulting from the implementation of the IED, followed by a tour of the factory premises. All participants were thoroughly briefed on the operation of the facility in relation to the IED directive and had the opportunity to discuss relevant issues with the facility's responsible parties. "
During the visit, special emphasis was placed on the environmental protection technologies and processes applied by Tosoh Hellas.
Ms. Nicole Michaleli, from the Environment-Quality Control Department presented how the IED (Industrial Emissions Directive) is applied in daily operations to control the environmental impacts (air emissions, waste management etc.). Furthermore, explained in detail the internal procedures and best available techniques (state-of-the-art anti-pollution equipment & monitoring systems) that company implements, to assure compliance with the relevant EU law and minimize the environmental footprint of its activities.
Tosoh Hellas would like to thank “Centre of International & European Economic Law” and especially Mr. Kalaboukas for his initiative, coordination and useful insights!
Thessaloniki, Greece
July 15th, 2024
Who We Are
With its headquarters in the Sindos Industrial Area of Thessaloniki, Tosoh Hellas, a member of the Tosoh Group, was founded in 1973 and has been active since 1976 in the production of electrolytic manganese dioxide (commercial known as EMD), an essential key component for the production of dry cells (commonly known as batteries).