Greenpeace Bulgaria and the environmental organization For the Earth have filed a formal complaint with the European Commission against four coal-fired power plants in Bulgaria: Bobov Dol in Golemo Selo, Brikel in Galabovo, Republika in Pernik, and Maritsa 3 in Dimitrovgrad. The case highlights recurring violations of EU environmental legislation between 2018 and 2023 and criticizes the oversight of their operations by Bulgarian institutions.
The complaint states that authorities such as the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Executive Environment Agency, and the Regional Inspectorates of Environment and Water repeatedly issued permits to polluting plants, failed to impose effective sanctions, and neglected immediate risks to public health during severe air pollution episodes. Greenpeace Bulgaria’s director Meglena Antonova noted that the evidence presented to Brussels is based on more than a decade of monitoring. The organizations are calling on the Commission to engage with Bulgarian authorities and, if necessary, launch an infringement procedure to ensure compliance with EU environmental rules.
At the same time, TPP Bobov Dol has announced progress on modernization initiatives aimed at reducing its dependence on coal. The plant is completing the construction of a 2-kilometer natural gas pipeline to replace fuel oil used for equipment ignition and to enable the use of gas-powered engines. A 100 MW solar power plant has also been built on a reclaimed ash deposit, intended to produce electricity for hydrogen generation.
Other projects include hybrid engines that can run on both natural gas and hydrogen, gas co-generation units already in place to partially replace coal, and the integration of biomass into the fuel mix, replacing around 20 percent of coal. The facility has also invested in a biogas plant to improve biomass utilization efficiency. A battery storage project near the solar plant is under development. According to the plant’s management, these measures are part of a broader plan to diversify energy sources and contribute to Bulgaria’s energy transition.
