site.btaEnergy Minister: Bulgaria Will Not Shut Down Coal Power Stations, Heating Plants in Winter

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said that “Bulgaria will not be forced to shut down coal-fired power stations or heating plants operating on coal during the winter period”. Stankov was approached by reporters before the opening of the RE-Source Southeast Conference 2025, which is being held on May 21 and 22 at Sofia Tech Park.

The minister said that Bulgaria has proposed a package deal, including the indefinite postponement of the liberalization of the market for household consumers, to the European Commission. In addition, coal-fired power stations in the country will continue to operate without being restricted or shut down, he added.

Stankov recalled the commitment made that the energy sector alone must reduce emissions by 40%, expressing reservations as to why this commitment was made at all. He explained that this indicator has been renegotiated in two directions. On one hand, the percentage will not be enforced within one calendar year, since if the winter is colder, achieving this reduction would not be possible. Instead, what has been negotiated is that emissions will be reported based on average values ​​for a three-year period. On the other hand, the creation of a mechanism through which coal-fired power stations or heating plants would be eventually shut down has been circumvented. "There is no way that people will be left without electricity or heating in the winter," Stankov added.

On May 16, the National Assembly finally decided that households will remain on the regulated electricity market for an indefinite period with the amendments to the Energy Act adopted on second reading.