Day in 3 news: Hands off coal, Maritsa tells EU; Unlikely coalition almost sealed; Energy production down

Капитал

Day in 3 news: Hands off coal, Maritsa tells EU; Unlikely coalition almost sealed; Energy production down

Капитал

© Капитал


Bulgaria's state power plant rails against EU

Bulgaria's state-owned power plant, TPP Maritsa East 2, has issued a powerful defense of its indispensability, dismissing EU policies as having "negligible effects". The pushback comes against the backdrop of escalating climate change and the EU's push to phase out coal.

This position is outlined in the plant's first sustainability report under the EU's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which covers 2023 and serves as a prelude to the mandatory 2024 report. The 60-page document portrays the plant as a vital, cost-effective energy source hindered by low electricity prices, high CO quota costs, and insufficient investments.

Critics have labeled the report as greenwashing, citing misleading data on air pollutants like particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. Nonetheless, the report is a rare transparency effort in Bulgaria's energy sector, allowing stakeholders to scrutinize its claims. Experts argue that the plant faces systemic inefficiencies but question the accuracy of its narrative that external factors alone are to blame for its challenges.

PM candidate Rosen Zhelyazkov awaits majority decision with MRF

Rosen Zhelyazkov, GERB's proposed prime minister, stated that "nothing is decided until everything is decided," ahead of a key legal committee meeting on judiciary reform.

Discussions with the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) are ongoing, with a final decision on securing the majority for a government expected by the end of the day. Zhelyazkov confirmed he will present a completed mandate and ministerial list to the president tomorrow, contingent on guaranteed MRF support. Additionally, he noted that agreements with BSP and There Is Such a People (ITN) are finalized and ready for signing, with the cabinet lineup agreed upon.

Energy Sector in 2024: Declining exports and solar growth

In 2024, Bulgaria's energy production dropped by 5%, primarily due to reduced output from coal-fired plants, while solar energy saw significant growth. Domestic electricity consumption rose slightly by 1%, driven by a shift from solid fuel and gas to electricity for heating, requiring the state supplier to purchase more power to meet demand. Notably, electricity exports plummeted by 70% to a record low of 1,000 GWh, reflecting increased competition from more efficient regional capacities, contrary to long-term strategies relying on export strength.

Challenges persist, including the absence of a clear future for coal plants, delayed market liberalization for households, and state interventions reducing producers' revenues, leaving Bulgaria's energy sector increasingly uncompetitive. As a result, importing energy from neighboring countries is often more cost-effective for consumers than relying on local production.

Bulgaria's state power plant rails against EU

Bulgaria's state-owned power plant, TPP Maritsa East 2, has issued a powerful defense of its indispensability, dismissing EU policies as having "negligible effects". The pushback comes against the backdrop of escalating climate change and the EU's push to phase out coal.

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