The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Sofia said that coal-fired thermal power plant Republika in Pernik is systematically releasing harmful emissions in the air.
The Inspectorate inspected the plant after several reports of air pollution and found that the harmful emissions are due to cracks, holes, and unsealed sections in the building that hosts the steam generators. Toplofikatsiya Pernik, the company that operates the power plant, will be issued two fines for violating the environmental legislation. These fines could vary between 5,000 and 250,000 euros.
The Inspectorate said that, to limit and stop future air pollution, Toplofikatsiya Pernik was issued two injunctions that must be complied with by 25 July. In case it fails to do so, additional and more stringent measures will be applied. Since the start of the year, six fines for fugitive emissions have been issued to TPP Republika, totaling some 130,000 euros.
Executive Director of Toplofikatsiya Pernik Chavdar Stoynev said that repairs to the roof of a boiler house are scheduled for early August. To start the repairs however, the boiler must first be shut down.
In early 2021, Toplofikatsiya Pernik said that it will invest some 4 million euros in the plant’s partial fuel switch to natural gas. The switch was expected to start in the summer of 2021, with the installation of three gas cogeneration units with combined installed capacity of 21 MW.
