site.btaStara Zagora Environment Inspectorate Shuts Down Biogas Facility in Nova Zagora After Regulatory Breaches

The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) in Stara Zagora has terminated the registration of Energy-2 OOD and revoked its permit for waste treatment activities at its biogas plant in Nova Zagora, the RIEW said on Wednesday. The decision was published on the inspectorate's website and will take effect on June 30 unless overturned.

The company is also ordered to stop operations from June 30, submit a plan for safe decommissioning, and hand over stored waste and fermentation products to authorized operators. The decision can be appealed within 14 days to the Environment Minister or the relevant administrative court.

The action is based on two violations of the Waste Management Act confirmed by final penalty decisions within the last three years: false reporting of incoming waste and exceeding allowed storage limits at the facility.

In 2025, the Nova Zagora Municipal Council adopted a declaration requesting the temporary closure of the installation until a comprehensive permit is issued. Municipal councilors pointed out that the operator had repeatedly exceeded its permitted amounts of waste, as they demanded that the activity be suspended, allowing citizens to actively participate in the public discussion of the application for a comprehensive permit.