The Nature Protection Inspection of Croatia's State Inspectorate has initiated administrative proceedings against the investors of a hydropower plant on the Una River.

The investors have been issued a ruling prohibiting any further activities related to the construction of the small hydropower plant “Una-mlin,” with a capacity of 160 kW, on parcel no. 1287/6, cadastral municipality Neteka, within the Natura 2000 ecological network area “HR 2001069 Kanjon Une.” The works were being conducted without an assessment of their acceptability for the ecological network area.

During the investigation, the Nature Protection Inspection, in accordance with Article 13 of the Nature Protection Act, sought an expert opinion from the Institute for Environmental Protection and Nature of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition. This was to determine whether the construction of the small hydropower plant had damaged the targeted habitat type or the native species population and whether any harmful consequences to nature had occurred.

The Institute for Environmental Protection and Nature provided a report to the State Inspectorate, indicating that the construction activities had indeed caused harmful effects on nature. The report also stated that the potential for further negative impacts on conservation objectives, the integrity of the ecological network area, and overall biodiversity could not be ruled out, according to the State Inspectorate.