EU urged to intervene over Bulgaria’s shielding of polluting plants linked to powerful tycoon

Two major Bulgarian environmental organisations announced on Tuesday (9 September) that they have lodged a complaint with the European Commission over years of violations by four large coal-fired power plants linked to powerful tycoon Hristo Kovachki.

Greenpeace Bulgaria and Za Zemiata (For the Earth) said they had taken the step after they had exhausted all national-level means to hold polluters accountable and protect affected citizens and the environment.

The complaint concerns breaches committed between 2018 and 2023 by the Bobov Dol and Republika power plants in western Bulgaria, as well as Brikel and Maritsa 3 in the south.

The organisations accuse the Bulgarian authorities of a complete failure to protect local populations from excessive pollution around the plants. They also criticise Bulgarian courts for neglecting European law by repeatedly upholding permits for what they call “systemic violators” and overturning fines for recurring abuses.

“Bulgarian institutions in practice refuse to apply European environmental legislation in its proper sense, giving precedence to the financial interests of the plants over human health and nature,” the NGOs told the European Commission.

An EUalive check also shows that the Bulgarian Supreme Administrative Court has repeatedly refused to halt polluting plants, disregarding evidence submitted by environmental groups. The court also declined to suspend the state-owned Maritsa East 2 plant, despite proof that its operating permit allows unlawfully high levels of emissions.

“The result is that in Bulgaria there is no one to stop the polluters. We believe we are presenting sufficient evidence to launch infringement proceedings against Bulgaria, since under European environmental law the protection of human health and the environment is paramount. We are witnessing yet another blow inflicted on society by our institutions,” said lawyer Regina Stoilova, representing the environmental organisations.

Meglena Antonova, head of Greenpeace Bulgaria, claimed that the state shields some of the coal plants allegedly controlled by a powerful local businessman.

“The systematic protection of these plants, linked to businessman Hristo Kovachki, suggests the existence of a solid institutional umbrella over the supposedly non-existent holding built around the dirty coal industry. The harsh reality for thousands of Bulgarians living under the chimneys of these plants – constant pollution and a sense of total impunity – fully exposes the impotence of Bulgarian institutions. That is why we are turning to the European authorities,” Antonova said.

The complaint argues that in Bulgaria there is simply no authority capable of forcing polluters to pay. It points out that Brikel, which continues to subject its region to intense air pollution, has paid only €3,250 in fines.

Local residents who oppose the plants are often targeted. A recent case saw the home of anti-Bobov Dol activist Daniela Toneva attacked. Her car was splashed with black paint and one of its windows smashed, while another window of her house was broken as she slept inside.

The assault occurred shortly after she published a recording in which the chair of the Bobov Dol municipal council, Krasimir Chavraganski, admitted to being summoned weekly to report to Kovachki.

Air pollution from the coal plants is caused by the absence of flue-gas cleaning systems. Operators instead release emissions through rooftops, broken windows in boiler rooms, or leaking and unsealed pipes and other parts of the facilities, bypassing the chimneys.

Between 2018 and 2023, Brikel was sanctioned 44 times for illegal emissions, Bobov Dol 27 times, and Republika 22 times, according to the complaint.

While legislation allows plants to operate without emission treatment for up to 120 hours per year in cases of malfunction, Bobov Dol exceeded this by a wide margin – operating one unit for 924 hours (38.5 days) in 2021 and 455 hours (19 days) in 2022 without flue-gas cleaning, according to official data cited in the NGOs’ report.

The plants also systematically violated water protection requirements. In order to cut costs, those linked to Kovachki burned waste and biomass together with coal without the necessary permits, the NGOs say. Even after obtaining permits, operators significantly exceeded the approved biomass limits.

Between 2018 and 2021, Brikel burned waste and biomass accounting for 25–49% of its total fuel without authorisation. Republika used 10–12% biomass without a permit in the same period. In 2018 and 2019, Bobov Dol simultaneously burned biomass and waste amounting to 24% and 32% respectively of its fuel mix, also without permits, the complaint states.

Caption: Bobov Dol power plant/Za Zemyata