The Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva insisted that preventive and ongoing actions should be urgently taken in case of concerning data from the early warning system, so as to prevent and reduce air pollution with sulfur dioxide. The meeting with representatives of the four power plants in the “Maritsa East” energy complex was held on Monday, October 17.

The reason for the timely reaction on the part of the Ministry of Environment and Water is the excess of sulfur dioxide registered during the weekend - the data comes from the Automatic Measuring Station “Galabovo” for October 15 and 16. Because of the reported values, ​​yesterday RIEW - Stara Zagora carried out an unexpected inspection of the operators in the Galabovo area.

During the inspection, the occurrence of unorganized emissions was established at the “Brikel” EAD TPP site in Galabovo. For this established violation by RIEW - Stara Zagora, an administrative-criminal procedure will be initiated in accordance with Art. 123c, item 2 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) for non-fulfillment of conditions of a complex permit.

RIEW - Stara Zagora issued instructions to all operators of large combustion plants to take measures and prevent deterioration of air quality. The regional inspection will resume intensive ongoing control of the power plants in respect to all conditions of their issued complex permits in the area of ​​the “Maritsa East” energy complex. An additional mobile measuring station from Executive Agency for Environment has also been positioned within the boundaries of the city of Galabovo.

As a result of the enhanced control by the MOEW from the beginning of September to 16 October 2022, by order of Minister Rositsa Karamfilova more than 48 unexpected inspections of large combustion installations were carried out jointly with experts from other regional inspections. Fifteen acts were drawn up for established administrative violations of the conditions of the respective complex permits - 13 for TPP “Brikel” EAD and one for TPP “Maritsa Iztok 2” EAD and “A&S 3C - Maritsa Iztok 1” EOOD.

Penal decrees are to be issued within the statutory period. For non-fulfillment of the requirements under Art. 123c and Art. 125 of the Environmental Protection Act by an operator of installations - a legal entity, the law provides for the imposition of a pecuniary sanction of 10,000 to 500,000 BGN in accordance with the severity of the violation and the impact on the environment.

A working meeting will be organized with the MOEW, the regional governor of Stara Zagora, and the Municipality of Galabovo to identify common institutional measures for the upcoming heating season. Also, the control will be strengthened by the MOEW over the municipalities for the implementation of the measures within their respective air quality programs.