Bulgaria cannot afford to close coal plants and mines, because this will lead to a collapse of the energy system and serious social upheavals. This was stated by businessman Hristo Kovachki during an energy forum, emphasizing that the country must maintain this capacity for as long as possible until new base capacities are built.
„The facts are clear. Currently, we have 2,000 megawatts of nuclear power, about 4,400 megawatts of coal-fired power plants, 200 megawatts of gas-fired power plants and nearly 3,500 megawatts of solar power. This is the core of the system. In winter, the load reaches 7,500-8,000 megawatts. If we take out the tecs, the system collapses“, said Kovachki.
Huge coal reserves and social role
According to him, Bulgaria has 1.8 billion tons of coal in the “Mini Maritsa-Iztok“ deposit. If the power plants are shut down, the mine will have no point in existing, which will leave thousands of people without a livelihood.
“Over 7,000 people work at “Mini Maritsa-Iztok“, and together with the service activities – another 30-40 thousand. This is a social effect that no government can ignore“, the businessman emphasized.
Rare earth metals – chance for a new life
Kovachki announced that Bulgaria has a real chance to combine the energy resource of coal with the extraction of rare earth metals. Research is currently underway in partnership with the University of New Dakota.
“The lignite coal in “Maritsa-East“ contains rare earth metals. The question is how to extract them and turn them into a product with high added value. We in Bulgaria do not have the necessary technologies, but with the help of our American partners this can be done. If we succeed, this will guarantee a new future for the mines“, he commented.
Clean coal with modern technologies
According to Kovachki, the second key factor is the reduction of the emission factor of coal. Currently, it is about 1 per megawatt of energy produced, while for natural gas it is 0.5. The goal is to reduce this indicator to the same level.
"There are technological solutions - coal gasification and modernization of boilers and turbines. If the efficiency is increased by 15-18% through new boilers and higher pressure in the turbines, we will achieve an emission factor of 0.5 - equal to that of gas. This will make our coal competitive and clean", said the businessman.
The only major project - new units at the “Kozloduy“ NPP
Kovachki pointed out that the only major energy project that is actually being talked about is the construction of the 7th and 8th units of the “Kozloduy“ NPP with Westinghouse technology.
"This is the project without which the Bulgarian energy sector cannot exist. But by 2035 we will need another 1,000 megawatts of capacity, and winter consumption will exceed 9-10 thousand megawatts. If we close the thermal power plants by then, we will be in the same impasse“, he warned.
Making coal beautiful and clean
Kovachki concluded with a message that Bulgaria should look to the future through technology, not by liquidating entire industries. “President Donald Trump said he would make American coal beautiful and clean. I believe that we can also make our coal beautiful and clean if we use modern technologies and do not turn our backs on our own resource“, he summarized.