„Greenpeace“ – Bulgaria and „For the Earth“ are filing a complaint with the European Commission over the long-standing violations of four coal-fired power plants linked to Hristo Kovachki. The environmental organizations are taking this step after all means at the national level to control the violators and protect the affected citizens and nature have been exhausted.
The complaint examines the violations of the infamous tecs „Bobov dol“ in Golemo Selo, „Brikel“ in Galabovo, „Republika“ in Pernik and „Maritsa 3“ in Dimitrovgrad for the six-year period from 2018 to 2023. The document presents categorical evidence of the complete failure of the Bulgarian control bodies - the Ministry of Environment and Water (MEW), the Executive Environment Agency (EEA) and the Regional Inspectorates for Environment and Water (RIOSV). The institutions issue permits to systemic polluters, fail to sanction them proportionately and effectively to prevent future damage, and turn a blind eye to the immediate danger to human health in cases of intensive gassing.
The administrative courts, on the other hand, fail to implement European legislation. By confirming permits for systematic violators, canceling or reducing fines for repeated abuses, allowing the continued operation of power plants during legal proceedings, they violate the principles enshrined in the Industrial Emissions Directive for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment.
“Bulgarian institutions practically refuse to apply European environmental legislation in its sense, giving precedence to the financial interests of the power plants over the health of people and nature. The Supreme Administrative Court has established a practice according to which the operation of power plants cannot be stopped regardless of the health and environmental damage. The result is that there is no one in Bulgaria to stop the polluters. We believe that we present sufficient evidence to initiate criminal proceedings against Bulgaria, since according to European environmental legislation, the protection of human health and the environment is paramount. We are observing yet another damage that the institutions in our country are causing to our society“, commented the attorney. Regina Stoilova.
“The systematic patronage of these power plants, associated with businessman Hristo Kovachki, suggests a stable institutional umbrella over the supposedly non-existent holding company built around the dirty coal industry. The cruel reality for thousands of Bulgarians under the chimneys of these power plants - continuous pollution and a sense of absolute impunity - fully exposes the powerlessness of Bulgarian institutions. That is why we are turning to European institutions“, points out Meglena Antonova, head of “Greenpeace“ Bulgaria.
Moreover, in Bulgaria there is simply no one to make polluters pay. This is shown by the analysis of the data on the fines of three power plants associated with Kovachki, according to which for the period 2018-2023 they have avoided sanctions worth nearly 5 million leva. In six years, the TPP “Brikel“, which continues to subject the region to intensive gassing, has paid fines of only 6,500 leva. Of the sanctions imposed on it for over 1 million leva, only one was confirmed by the District Court in Galabovo, which directly canceled over 80% of the penalties.
The example of the hidden gassing with poisonous sulfur dioxide of Golemo Selo and the Bobovdol region by the TPP “Bobov Dol“, the only industrial source of this pollutant in the vicinity, is shocking. The striking levels of pollution were registered by state authorities, but remained hidden, until “Greenpeace“ – Bulgaria does not publish them. Despite the systematic exceedances of the norms, including the alarm threshold for sulfur dioxide, the authorities have neither warned the population about the danger, nor have they taken measures to close the plant due to the frequent immediate threat to residents.
When, although rarely, the institutions do take action, their measures are practically ineffective - as turned out with the forced closure of the TPP “Brikel“ and TPP “Maritsa 3“ in 2022. In both cases, after appeal, the courts allowed the plants to operate until the final resolution of the cases, and in both cases the cases take at least three years. During this time, the pollution continues, and thousands of citizens pay the price for it - with the most precious thing they have, their health.
Local residents are often the target of attacks for their disagreement and resistance. A scandalous and telling case is the one from the past few days, when unknown persons attacked the home of the activist against the Bobov Dol TPP, Daniela Toneva - her car was covered in black paint and one of the windows was broken. One of the windows of her home was also broken while she was inside and sleeping. The attack was committed shortly after Toneva released a recording in which the Chairman of the Bobov Dol Municipal Council, Krasimir Chavraganski, is heard admitting that he is used to reporting to Hristo Kovachki every week. She recently appeared on the Bulgarian National Radio, where she spoke about the severe air pollution in the area caused by the Bobov Dol TPP. “Greenpeace” – Bulgaria and the entire international network of the organization express their unconditional support to Daniela Toneva and all local residents who are fighting for clean air.