Bulgaria will not be forced to shut down coal power plants during winter, says Energy Minister

Bulgaria will not be forced to shut down its coal-fired power stations or coal-powered district heating systems during the winter. Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov made this statement ahead of the opening of the RE-Source Southeast 2025 forum, held at Sofia Tech Park, as reported by BTA.

The minister announced that Bulgaria had proposed a package deal to the European Commission which includes the option to postpone the liberalisation of the market for household consumers indefinitely. The deal also proposes that Bulgaria's coal-fired power stations will be permitted to continue operating without restrictions or shutdowns.

The minister recalled Bulgaria's commitment to reduce emissions by 40% in the energy sector alone, expressing reservations as to why this commitment had been made in the first place. It has been renegotiated that this percentage will not apply within a single calendar year, as it would be impossible to achieve in a colder winter. Instead, emissions will be reported based on average values over a three-year period.