Bulgarian Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova said that Bulgaria plans to use coal for electricity generation until 2050 due the strategic value of its coal-fired thermal power plants for both energy and national security of the country.
However, due to irreparable damages that will be caused by maintaining coal-fired thermal power plants by 2050, Greenpeace Bulgaria calls for coal phase-out by 2030, 20 years earlier than envisaged by the national plan.
Greenpeace Bulgaria’s energy solutions coordinator Balin Balinov singled out Greece as an excellent example of a country which was heavily reliant on coal-based electricity generation, but agreed to coal phaseout by 2030, with some coal-fired units already shut down. He said that through a consensus of authorities and citizens, the same could be achieved in Bulgaria as well.
Bulgarian Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova stressed that Bulgaria uses local coal resources, which are sufficient for the production of electricity over the next 60 years, in line with environmental requirements, adding that coal’s share in total electricity generation is 46 %, but during the winter months it rises up to 60 %. She also said that the country’s intention to use coal until 2050 is also a part of its draft strategy for the sustainable energy development until 2030, with a projection until 2050. According to a final draft of National Energy and Climate Plans (NECP) published in June, seven EU member states plan to use coal for electricity generation after 2030, among which are four countries in southeastern Europe: Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Croatia.
