The Minister of Environment and Water Asen Lichev met today with the Deputy Regional Governor of Haskovo Violeta Jeleva and the Director of RIEW-Haskovo Natalia Pachemanova to discuss the frequent signals for air pollution in Dimitrovgrad. Short-term actions for solving the problems raised by the public in the city in connection with the work of the TPP Maritsa 3 AD were discussed.

 The TPP resumed its activities in May this year, and temporarily suspended its work on December 4 until the elimination of technological problems, for which the company’s management officially notified RIEW-Haskovo.

 Minister Lichev emphasized that on October 26 this year an updated complex permit had been issued to TPP Maritza 3 AD by the director of the Executive Environment Agency (EEA) in order to comply with the best available mode of work for large combustion plants. With it, the agency imposed much stricter working conditions for the plant in compliance with the higher requirements of European and national legislation. However, the updated permit is being appealed by the civil initiative “Breathe, Dimitrovgrad”. The appeal does not stop the work of the enterprise, but suspends the validity of the updated permit and actually blocks the introduction of these stricter conditions, which protect citizens interests better. Thus, until December 4, the company has been working under the requirements of the old complex permit from 2016, observing lower standards than those introduced in October 2021.

 Minister Lichev insisted on holding a new meeting with the people in Dimitrovgrad to outline short-term measures on the issue. The Deputy Governor of Haskovo Violeta Jeleva informed in response that such a meeting had been agreed yesterday by the district administration together with citizens and representatives of the Municipality of Dimitrovgrad, RIEW-Haskovo, and the EEA. At the meeting, it will be discussed what actions can be taken during the planned repairs, which are currently being carried out by the operator of TPP Maritza 3 AD, in order to prevent air pollution in the city.

 During the meeting, the director Natalia Pachemanova informed what control activity had been undertaken by RIEW-Haskovo, together with the regional laboratory at the EEA. In connection with the received signals for air pollution after the resumption of operation of TPP Maritza 3 AD, 15 on-site inspections were performed. Three prescriptions were given and 4 acts were issued for the operator - two under the Clean Air Act and two under the Water Act. Two penal decrees were issued in the amount of 30,000 BGN for violation of a condition of the complex permit and 4,000 BGN for non-compliance with a prescription for fulfillment of the requirement that the amount of biomass used should not exceed 20% of the total fuel. In addition to the automatic measuring station, a mobile station was set up in the area to monitor air quality indicators.