Bulgaria wants to delay the planned closure of its coal-fired power plants by around 12 years, to 2038 – although that goes against the country’s EU recovery plan. The parliament in Sofia today instructed the government to negotiate with the EU Commission to withdraw the corresponding obligation.
The EU recovery plan envisages reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the energy sector by 40% by the end of 2025 compared to 2019, which should be equivalent to phasing out coal in 2026.
Demonstration of coal plant workers
Employees of coal plants and coal mines demonstrated in parliament to delay the closure of their plants until 2038.
They complained that implementing the previous targets would jeopardize energy security and many jobs. The parliamentary decision in favor of coal plants finally passed with an overwhelming majority of 187 votes in favour, with only two votes against and nine abstentions.
Heavy reliance on coal
According to industry sources, Bulgaria’s coal-fired power plants generate half of the country’s total electricity needs in the summer months. During the heating season it is almost 60 percent. Most of them have already started implementing projects to diversify their fuel mix and phase out coal.
But that cannot be fully achieved in three years, according to an industry open letter to state and congressional leadership dated November 2022.
Greenhouse gases such as CO2 released when gas, oil and coal are burned are the main reason for global warming and its fatal consequences i.e. increasing droughts, heat waves, hurricanes, floods and sea level rise.