site.btaPresident Radev Supports National Position against Proposed EU Rules for Large Combustion Plants

President Radev Supports National Position against Proposed EU Rules for Large Combustion Plants

Sofia, March 17 (BTA) - President Rumen Radev on Friday supported Bulgaria's national position against planned changes to the European Commission Best Available Techniques Reference Document for Large Combustion Plants. The news was reported by Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association Chairman Vassil Velev after President Radev met with the Bulgarian Employer Organizations' Association to be updated on its priorities for 2017.

The proposed changes to the Reference Document imply greater restrictions on greenhouse emissions released by thermal power plants. It will be too difficult for coal-fired power plants to achieve the emission targets for mercury, nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, and this will put the coal mining and power sectors at risk. The Economy Ministry estimates that the tougher rules will cause the Bulgarian economy to lose 50,000 jobs and will also harm over 100,000 other workers in related industries.

Velev said President Radev vowed to help consolidate Bulgaria's position on the matter and this is OK with all political parties likely to enter the next parliament after the March 26 elections. For Bulgaria, the risk associated with the proposed changes is perhaps greater than the setbacks involved in the early closure of the four older reactors at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, Velev argued. Within four years from now, the country may lose one-third of its electricity generating capacities and may be unable to replace them with other basic capacities. This will push electricity prices up and will have grave consequences for the labour market, he warned.

He noted: "The President is aware of the great danger. We hope that everything will be done to avert it." Bulgaria cannot veto the process even if it joins forces with other EU member states, but it can insist on derogation from the general rules and longer deadlines when the document is discussed in April, Velev suggested.