site.btaEnvironment Regulator Launches New Penalty Procedure against Bobov Dol TPP for Air Pollution

Responding to alerts about ambient air pollution, experts of the Sofia Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water carried out a non-routine inspection of the Bobov Dol Thermoelectric Power Plant on Monday, the Ministry of Environment and Water said on Tuesday.

The inspectors found diffuse emissions discharged from the boiler shop building, where the plant's power generating facilities are housed, as well as from compromised sections of the gas conduits to the combustion plant, the press release says. 

Part of the emission flows originating from the combustion plant were found to divert from the technological route specified in the integrated permit. This means that these flows do not pass through all treatment facilities (electric filters and flue gas desulfurization systems) and are prematurely discharged into ambient air, the Ministry adds. An administrative penalty procedure has been initiated in connection with the detected violation, and a penalty decree will be issued shortly.

The Regional Inspectorate is monitoring the operation of the Bobov Dol TPP on a daily basis. The plant is subject to continuous control, including by regular inspections, both scheduled and responding to alerts from members of the public. Whenever a violation is detected, sanctions are imposed immediately in line with the legislation in force, the press release says.

Since the beginning of 2026, the Regional Inspectorate experts have carried out 20 inspections of the plant's operation and have drawn up ten written statements ascertaining administrative violations, the Ministry reports, adding that the Regional Inspectorate will continue to exercise rigorous control over the operation of the Bobov Dol TPP with a view to protecting ambient air quality.

On March 23, 2026, the Dupnitsa Regional Court upheld a penalty decree, issued on November 12, 2025 by the Sofia Regional Inspectorate Director, which imposed a pecuniary penalty of BGN 250,000 on the Bobov Dol TPP.

In 2025, the mobile station of the Executive Environment Agency detected 30 exceedences of the average annual emission limit values for sulphur dioxide from Bobov Dol, up from a maximum 24 exceedances permitted under the relevant ordinance, the Agency told Greenpeace when approached under the Access to Public Information Act in early February 2026.