site.btaAir Pollution, Odors from Kronospan Plant Identified as Biggest Nuisance for Veliko Tarnovo Residents

Speaking here on Monday, Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov said that the pollution and odors coming from the Kronospan production site are the biggest nuisance for Veliko Tarnovo. Genov visited the city at the invitation of Mayor Daniel Panov and the Municipal Council committee monitoring measures to address air pollution caused by Kronospan.

Numerous inspections have already been conducted at the company to protect the health and comfort of Veliko Tarnovo residents, Genov said. He added that the company continues to operate while setting aside funds to pay fines, and reports of air pollution have been increasing.

The Minister said that the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) and the Regional Health Inspectorate must assess whether the plant’s operations are harmful to human health, including examining fine dust particles, and determine the potential health consequences.

On Monday, RIEW is expected to inform the company that changes to its integrated permit must be requested.

Since 2022, the operator has corresponded with the Executive Environment Agency, receiving recommendations on necessary improvements. While the plant has pledged to update its production process, no changes have yet been implemented. "There is no more time to wait," the Minister said. If this requirement is not met promptly, a reopening of the integrated permit will be initiated, and the current working methods and conditions will be reviewed. "The goal is to put an end to this harassment of the people of Veliko Tarnovo," Genov said. 

He noted that an additional mobile air quality monitoring station will be installed in November, adding that it will offer broader measurement capabilities. In his words, the problem stems both from noncompliance with technical procedures at the plant and insufficient oversight by authorities.

If a health authority determines that the company’s activities threaten human health, a compulsory measure will be imposed immediately to halt production until the irregularities are corrected, the Minister said.

At the start of the meeting, Mayor Panov recalled a Municipal Council decision of 2016 that stipulated that Kronospan’s production parameters should be based on an environmental impact assessment rather than an integrated permit. Since 2022, the municipality has sent several letters to the Environment and Water Ministry requesting changes to the permit, but no action has been taken. Panov stressed that residents demand urgent solutions.

Two months ago, the municipality requested an independent inspection by another RIEW office. In July, a comprehensive inspection was carried out, with several comments issued to Kronospan. Panov said he expects a response from RIEW within a week regarding when changes to the company’s integrated permit parameters will be made.

The meeting was attended by Municipal Council chairperson Ventsislav Spirdonov, MPs Kostadin Angelov and Mariana Boyadzhieva, regional governor Yulia Likomanova-Mutafchieva, RIEW director Stanislav Stanchev, and other institutional representatives.