Today, the Minister of Environment and Water Borislav Sandov signed a Decision confirming the 2021 update of the Complex Permit of TPP “Maritsa 3” - Dimitrovgrad. This means that the power plant will have to operate according to the conditions set out in the updated permit, in which measures and standards for permissible emissions related to the best available techniques are laid down, corresponding to those specified in Decision 2017/1442/EU. The requirements are stricter compared to those allowed by the conditions of the Complex Permit previously, and compliance should lead to improvement of air quality in the area.

In the new permit, the operation of the thermal power plant is permitted only after written confirmation by the RIEW - Haskovo that the conditions for technical measures to increase the efficiency of the desulfurization installation have been fulfilled, as well as reaching emission levels related to the best available techniques.

The document describes in detail the measures to increase the efficiency of the desulfurization installation, namely:

- Structural changes along the smoke tract with the aim of more even distribution of the gas flow entering the desulfurization installation;

- Installation of an additional recirculation pump with an additional collector, enabling an increase in the amount of absorbent used and the formation of an additional area for processing the flow of gases;

- Changing the nozzles to increase the contact surface between the waste gas and the absorbent.

The operator of TPP “Maritsa 3” has only partially fulfilled the conditions described above, and RIEW - Haskovo has been notified that the installation and putting into exploitation of part of the equipment is to be carried out during the period 01.06. – 31.07.2022

The updated complex permit also sets standards for permissible emissions, according to the best available techniques, have been set for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, dust, and additional parameters have been added for carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, and mercury. The testing frequency of most of the parameters NOx, CO, SO2, Hg, HCl are set as own continuous measurements, HF (hydrogen fluoride) is quarterly, and metals and non-metals with excl. of mercury - once a year.

The holder of the complex permit must submit to RIEW – Haskovo the monthly report for own continuous measurements, as well as a certificate for each batch of coal mix received and used. The certificate should include information on the composition of the coal used, whereby it can be seen that the installation uses a suitable coal mix with relatively low nitrogen-containing components of the organic mass, leading to a reduction of NOx emissions in the waste gases.

Another important condition that the power plant must fulfill is that all emissions of harmful substances from the installation under Condition 2 must be discharged into the air in an organized manner through the discharge devices described in Condition 9.2 Chimney 1 or Chimney 2. For Chimney 2 the discharge of emissions is allowed only for certain periods - from start-up of the boiler for electricity production until reaching 70% of the nominal power of the generator and when ceasing the work.

The purpose of the measures laid down in the updated complex permit is to bring the installation into compliance with the requirements of Decision 2017/1442/EU in order to guarantee the lawful operation of the combustion installation, as well as its compliance with the current standards for air quality and environmental legislation.