Bulgaria: Electricity production dropped by 13.2 % in 2020

According to the data published by Bulgarian electricity transmission system operator ESO, production of electricity in Bulgaria in the period between 1 January and 16 February 2020 has decreased by 13.2 % compared to the same period in 2019 and reached 6.09 TWh. Bulgaria‟s electricity consumption dropped as well in the same period, by 3.1 % reaching a total of 6.02 TWh. Electricity exports dropped by 26.24 % in the same period to 847 GWh, while imports of electricity rose by 123.94 % to 780 GWh. The share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources (RES) in the transmission network rose by 17.94 % to 195.64 GWh, while RES share in the country‟s distribution network increased by 21.38 % to 263.11 GWh. In January, Minister of Environment and Water Emil Dimitrov officially said that the Ministry check found that the Bobov Dol power plant has not been burning hazardous waste. The manager of waste supplier Blatsion, Goran Angelov said that the containers with waste were bound for the plant for incineration, but never went there because in the meantime the plant’s license for waste incineration expired, adding that Bulgaria does not have a ban on the import of scrap wood, textiles and glass. Geshev said that a comprehensive review of compliance with the eco-legislation of the TPPs is yet to be carried out and competency actions will be undertaken to ensure air quality, adding that TPP Bobov Dol has been placed under constant monitoring. He also said that TPPs in Brikel, Sliven and Pernik, all connected to Bulgarian businessman Hristo Kovachki, will also be inspected. According to Minister Dimitrov, the plant in Sliven has a permit to burn RDF.
Last September, the Ministry of Environment and Water briefly suspended the operation of power plants in Brikel and Pernik due to illegal use of biomass as fuel.