A Bulgarian court has upheld a €154,000 environmental penalty against the Bobov Dol coal-fired power plant. The Dupnitsa Regional Court ruled that the Sofia Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water acted lawfully when it imposed the sanction under Bulgaria’s Environmental Protection Act. The decision followed findings that the facility breached multiple conditions in its integrated environmental permit.
The case related to failures involving emissions-control equipment and an uncontrolled release of flue gases. The court’s findings covered shortcomings in how the plant operated its emissions abatement systems during the incident period. It also addressed releases that were not aligned with permit requirements for flue-gas handling.
Inspection findings on 23 September 2025
Inspectors identified the breaches during an unannounced inspection on 23 September 2025. The inspection was initiated after complaints from residents living near the power station. Inspectors reported that emissions from an operating boiler bypassed gas-cleaning and flue-gas desulphurisation systems before being released into the atmosphere.
An automatic monitoring station in Golemo Selo, about 700 metres from the plant, recorded sulphur dioxide concentrations above the permitted limit for two consecutive hours. Inspectors also reported a strong sulphur smell in the surrounding area. The court considered these observations as part of the evidence supporting the enforcement action.
Permit conditions and fine proportionality
The permit violations involved several operational requirements, including controlled discharge of flue gases and prevention of air-pollution limit exceedances. The court also addressed restrictions on odours beyond the plant perimeter. It rejected the operator’s request to cancel or reduce the fine, concluding that the breaches could not be treated as minor because they affected environmental protection and public health.
The judges found no material procedural shortcomings in how the enforcement process was carried out. When assessing proportionality, they considered both the seriousness of the incident and the plant’s history of similar violations. The ruling therefore maintained the €154,000 penalty imposed by regulators.
Earlier fines and ongoing regulatory actions
The decision follows another ruling issued earlier in July by the same court, which confirmed an additional environmental fine exceeding €100,000 against Bobov Dol. During the first 11 months of 2025, inspectors issued 17 violation reports involving the facility. The pattern of enforcement actions indicates continued regulatory scrutiny tied to permit compliance.
In May, Bulgaria’s Ministry of Environment and Water ordered a partial shutdown after repeated inspections identified recurring breaches of Bobov Dol’s integrated permit, including unauthorised releases of waste gases. The ministry later confirmed that restrictions would remain in place until the operator demonstrated full compliance.
Operational impact on generation and compliance systems
For Bobov Dol, financial exposure extends beyond the nominal value of fines due to partial operating restrictions. Reduced availability affects generation output while repeated enforcement can increase maintenance expenditure and insurance costs. It can also make it more difficult to secure finance for refurbishment.
The source facts also link availability constraints to revenue outcomes during periods when electricity prices are high regionally. A unit unavailable during evening scarcity periods loses baseload production as well as the most profitable hours of the day.
Bulgaria continues to use coal generation to support system adequacy, particularly during winter peaks and periods of low renewable output. However, Bobov Dol’s repeated violations show that coal assets unable to maintain functioning emissions controls face growing operational and regulatory risk.
