Additional information on Bulgaria’s systemic and persistent violation of the limit values for SO2 and case C-730/19 CJEU (Commission v. Bulgaria)

The document reports systemic violations of SO2 limit values in Bulgaria, specifically in the Galabovo and Pernik regions. It argues that Bulgarian authorities are failing to enforce the Air Quality Plan of Galabovo (2019–2023) by granting power plants derogations from desulphurisation standards and allowing boilers to operate without abatement systems. Additionally, it notes the absence of a required short-term action plan to reduce emissions during alert threshold exceedances.

• SO2 limit values continued to be exceeded in Pernik and Galabovo between 2018 and 2020. In Pernik Centre, the hourly limit was exceeded 11 times in 2018 and 9 times in 2019, with 19 exceedances in the first three quarters of 2020. In Galabovo, hourly limit exceedances rose from 72 in 2018 to 95 in 2019, and the alarm threshold was violated three times in 2019 and twice in the first three quarters of 2020.
• The Air Quality Plan of Galabovo Municipality (2019–2023) requires a desulphurisation rate of at least 98% and prohibits boiler operation without desulphurisation systems. However, Bulgarian authorities have granted derogations allowing lower rates. TPP Maritsa East 2 EAD was permitted a rate of 97% for 10 boilers and 97.5% for two boilers for an indefinite period. Draft permits for AES Maritsa East 1 EOOD and TPP ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 AD propose rates of 97.5% and 97% respectively.
• Power plants in Galabovo frequently operate without functioning desulphurisation devices. Between 2014 and 2018, approximately 30% of SO2 emissions from TPP Maritsa East 2 EAD occurred while desulphurisation devices were off. TPP Brikel EAD is also cited for poor technical conditions leading to dust and fume emissions.
• Galabovo has failed to adopt a short-term action plan as required by Article 24 of Directive 2008/50/EC to reduce emissions when the SO2 alert threshold (500 μg/m3) is exceeded. The existing Operational Action Plan only provides instructions for informing the population and lacks measures to reduce the risk or duration of exceedances.

APA

ClientEarth (n.d.). Additional information on Bulgaria’s systemic and persistent violation of the limit values for SO2 and case C-730/19 CJEU (Commission v. Bulgaria). https://www.clientearth.org/media/pgdfqivb/20210114_letter-to-ec_so2-infringement.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Additional information on Bulgaria’s systemic and persistent violation of the limit values for SO2 and case C-730/19 CJEU (Commission v. Bulgaria). n.d. https://www.clientearth.org/media/pgdfqivb/20210114_letter-to-ec_so2-infringement.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=ClientEarth |title=Additional information on Bulgaria’s systemic and persistent violation of the limit values for SO2 and case C-730/19 CJEU (Commission v. Bulgaria) |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/pgdfqivb/20210114_letter-to-ec_so2-infringement.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{clientearthndadditional, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Additional information on Bulgaria’s systemic and persistent violation of the limit values for SO2 and case C-730/19 CJEU (Commission v. Bulgaria)}}, publisher = {ClientEarth}, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/pgdfqivb/20210114_letter-to-ec_so2-infringement.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }