Bulgaria has ordered a partial suspension of operations at the Bobov Dol thermal power plant following repeated violations of environmental regulations and permit conditions. The enforcement action targets boiler unit 2, according to statements by government officials. The decision follows inspections linked to the plant’s compliance record.
Administrative order for boiler unit 2 shutdown
Environment Minister Rositsa Karamfilova said the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Sofia will issue a mandatory administrative order requiring the shutdown of boiler unit 2 at the coal-fired facility. She attributed the move to breaches identified through a series of inspections. The findings covered both environmental legislation and the plant’s integrated operating permit.
Karamfilova said state institutions received multiple complaints about the plant’s operation. Those complaints prompted additional inspections and regulatory reviews before enforcement action was taken. The order is framed as a response to non-compliance with environmental requirements and permit conditions.
Electricity supply security assessment for Sofia
Energy Minister Iva Petrova said the government assessed the potential impact of the shutdown on electricity supply security, with a focus on the Sofia region. She noted that under the plant’s current configuration, at least one generating unit must remain in operation to support stable electricity supply. The assessment was part of the government’s evaluation ahead of implementation.
At present, unit 2 remains active while unit 3 is undergoing maintenance, with completion expected by the end of the week. Petrova added that once the shutdown order is implemented, the facility should still be able to operate with one unit running. This operational setup is intended to address reliability requirements during the enforcement period.
Regulatory pressure on aging coal-fired generation
The measure reflects increasing regulatory pressure on aging coal-fired power plants in Bulgaria. Authorities are tightening environmental enforcement while balancing concerns related to energy security and system reliability. The decision is tied specifically to repeated breaches of environmental rules and permit conditions at Bobov Dol.
