Today, May 15, the Supreme Administrative Court is considering a case that is decisive for the future of the state-owned coal-fired power plant TPP “Maritsa East 2“. Back in 2019, “Greenpeace“ Bulgaria and the Environmental Association “For the Earth“ filed an appeal against the government's decision to allow the power plant to operate, failing to comply with European standards for emissions of sulfur dioxide and mercury – pollutants that seriously threaten the health of people in the region and beyond the borders of Bulgaria.
The facts are categorical:
The TPP “Maritsa East 2“ emits up to 2 times more sulfur dioxide than is permissible when operating at full capacity. This can lead to over 200 premature deaths per year not only in Bulgaria, but also in neighboring countries such as Turkey, Greece and Romania.
In 2023, the plant spewed 523 kg of mercury into the air, and in 2022 - a record 1314 kg, which places it in second place in Europe in mercury emissions, right after the largest plant in Poland.
Electricity from the TPP “Maritsa East 2“ is 1.6 times more expensive than the market price in Bulgaria at the moment – a burden that is offset by our electricity bills and state aid.
Despite subsidies, coal-fired electricity generation is already economically unprofitable and lags behind in competition with new technologies.
Coal from the Maritsa Basin has such a high sulfur content that the coal-fired power plants that burn it will never meet modern air quality standards.
Today's case is more than a legal case - it is directly related to the right of Bulgarian citizens to clean air, economic justice and a dignified energy transformation.
Over the nearly six years of the case, it reached the Supreme Administrative Court, which requested a consultation with the European Court of Justice, after which it was returned to the court in Stara Zagora and is now back before the Supreme Court. As the legal saga continues, the trend that coal energy is economically unprofitable and the gradual removal of coal from the energy system must be urgently planned.
„It is time for the government to recognize the reality: the world is moving towards cleaner energy. The task of those in power is not to extend the life of polluting technologies, but to plan a just transition — with care for people and communities affected by pollution and the climate crisis, new jobs and sustainable investments“ – said Meglena Antonova, Director of „Greenpeace“ – Bulgaria.