Bulgarian authorities have ordered a partial suspension of operations at the Bobov Dol thermal power plant following repeated violations of environmental regulations and permit conditions.
Environment Minister Rositsa Karamfilova stated that the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Sofia will issue a mandatory administrative order requiring the shutdown of boiler unit 2 at the coal-fired facility. The decision comes after a series of inspections that identified breaches of both environmental legislation and the plant’s integrated operating permit.
According to Karamfilova, state institutions had received multiple complaints regarding the plant’s operation, which led to additional inspections and regulatory reviews before enforcement action was taken.
Energy Minister Iva Petrova said the government also evaluated the potential impact of the shutdown on electricity supply security, particularly for the Sofia region. She noted that under the plant’s current configuration, at least one generating unit must remain in operation to ensure stable electricity supply.
At present, unit 2 remains active, while unit 3 is undergoing maintenance, with completion expected by the end of the week. Petrova added that the facility should still be able to operate with one unit running once the shutdown order is implemented.
The decision reflects increasing regulatory pressure on aging coal-fired power plants in Bulgaria, as authorities tighten environmental enforcement while balancing concerns over energy security and system reliability.
