UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/EG.1/4

UNITED
NATIONS / EP
UNEP(DTIE)/Hg/EG.1/4
/ United Nations
Environment
Programme / Distr.: General
January 2014
English only

Expert Group on Best Available Techniques and

Best Environmental Practices

First meeting

Ottawa, Canada 25 - 28 February 2014

Information submitted by governments [1]

  1. Following the establishment of the Expert Group by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, the secretariat wrote to all governments inviting the submission of any information relevant to best available techniques and on best environmental practices, which could be applied for the reduction of emissions, including any differences between new and existing sources and the need to minimize cross-media effects from the source categories specified in Annex D of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, In addition, the secretariat also invites the submission of technical information on possible criteria used to identify the sources covered within a source category listed in Annex D.
  1. Following this request, the secretariat has received information from Canada, China, the European Commission, Japan and Mauritius. Oman also responded to the request, indicating that they did not have any specific information available at this time. The submitted information is summarised below, and will be distributed electronically.

Canada

  1. Canada submitted information covering all five source categories identified in Annex D of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The information submitted on coal-fired power plants and coal-fired industrial boilers includes the following:
  1. Canada-wide standards for Mercury Emissions from Coal-fired Electricity Generating Plants & 2010 Progress Report id= 86
  2. Assessment of other Level of Possible Control of Mercury Emissions-To-Air from Canadian Electric Power Generation Facilities Part 1.
  3. Development of Technical Recommendations on Monitoring Provisions Suitable for a Mercury Emission Control Regulation for the Canadian Electric Power Generation Sector
  1. The following information was submitted on smelting and roasting processes used in the production of non-ferrous metals:
  2. Notice requiring the Preparation and Implementation of Pollution Prevention Plans in Respect of Specified Toxic Substances Released from Base Metals Smelters and Refineries and Zinc Plants (http:
  3. 2011 Progress Report – Pollution Prevention Planning by Base Metals Smelters and Refineries and Zinc Plants (http:
  4. Environmental Code of Practice for Base Metals Smelters and Refineries: Code of Practice, Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (http:
  5. Canada-wide Standard for Mercury (
  1. The following information was submitted on waste incineration facilities:
  2. Canada-wide Standard for Mercury & 2010 Progress Report (
  3. Waste to Energy – A Technical Review of Municipal Solid Waste Thermal Treatment Practices
  4. Technical Document for Batch Waste Incineration
  1. Finally, on cement clinker production facilities, Canada submitted the National Emission Guideline for Cement Kilns.

China

  1. In response to the request for information, China has submitted a draft report entitled “Technologies and practices on atmospheric mercury emission control”. This draft report covers each of the five sectors set out in Annex D, with information on coal-fired power plants and industrial boilers combined in a single chapter.

European Union

  1. The European Commission noted in their response to the request for information that the European Union has been working with the notion of best available techniques (including certain best environmental practices) for more than 15 years. Emission limits and other permit conditions for large industrial point sources have to be based on BAT under the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU). The information exchange on BAT is a highly structured process, resulting in well-documented BAT reference documents (BREFs) containing conclusions on which techniques qualify in the EU as BAT and the corresponding environmental performance. The BAT reference documents, including some draft versions, are available at The BREF documents cover all of the point source categories listed in Annex D, and provide useful information on multi-pollutant control strategies, as well as on releases to land and water. The EC submitted a compilation of information from those BREFs most relevant to mercury emissions to the atmosphere from Annex D sources.

Japan

  1. Japan submitted a number of documents relevant to the development of guidance material. They have submitted a table summarizing the regulations controlling emissions of air pollutants other than mercury under the Air Pollution Control Act, which they indicate could contribute to emission reductions of mercury as reference. These regulations apply for all relevant sources listed in Annex D. They also submitted presentations on ultra low particulate matter control and mercury removal using a special catalyst, which provided a summary of additional techniques. A report on using selective catalytic reduction as part of the mercury mitigation strategy was provided, as was additional information on the latest technologies for coal fired power plants.

Mauritius

  1. Mauritius provided a brief statement, indicating that a 2013 inventory revealed the two main sources of mercury in Mauritius were use and disposal of mercury-added products, and coal combustion. For coal combustion, a number of control mechanisms are in place. An initial environment impact assessment is undertaken to ensure good environmental practices are used. Land use planning is used to minimize local effects from the activities. The industrial wastes audit regulation increases industry self-compliance with the regulations, and increases efficiency in terms of resources used and waste generation. A monitoring and enforcement programme ensures compliance with the standards. This includes self-monitoring combined with cross-verification by the National Environment Laboratory. While mercury is not specifically included in the air emission standards at this time, it is being addressed through an amendment of the Environment Protection Act currently underway. The statement further indicated that industry are currently using continuous online monitoring for a range of pollutants (PM, SO2, NO, NOx, CO and O2), while thermal power plants use high performance electrostatic precipitators for post combustion treatment of gas prior to release, as well we energy efficient equipment which reduces the quantity of coal used and therefore the overall emissions from the power generation.

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[1] This document has not been formally edited.