site.btaAir Pollution in Bulgaria Starts Decreasing after 2012 - Environment Minister

Air Pollution in Bulgaria Starts Decreasing after 2012 - Environment Minister

Sofia, December 1 (BTA) - The Ministry of Environment and Water
has the will to improve the quality of solid fuels and stimulate
this country's gasification, Environment Minister Ivelina
Vassileva told BTA on Monday, commenting the findings of the
latest report by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The air pollution has begun to decrease after 2012, Vassileva
explained. Those municipalities affected by air pollution have
developed plans and specific measures back in 2012, while the
Ministry is regularly reviewing their progress and ensures that
opportunities for implementing the initiatives are provided.

In 2012 Bulgaria was the worst polluted Member State of the
European Environment Agency (EEA) with particles with a diameter
of less than 10 micrometres, known as particulate matter (PM)
10, followed by Poland and Slovakia, Bulgaria's Executive
Environment Agency said Tuesday, quoting the latest EEA Annual
Air Quality Report. In 2012 nearly 90 per cent of Bulgaria's
population was exposed to excessive levels of PM10, compared to
a European average of 38 per cent.

The most polluting production plant in Bulgaria are the Maritsa
East 2 TPP. Vassileva recalled that there is an infringement
procedure against Bulgaria over the poor air quality, adding
that a similar procedure has been launched against another 21
Member States.

The new OP Environment includes a special priority, aimed at
improving the quality of ambient air, she said. Municipalities
will be able to receive financing under the OP for improving air
quality and the Ministry continues to work with them towards
achieving this, Vassileva said.

The Ministry is making efforts to implement the measures
gradually and hopes that the European Commission will show
understanding, because a large part of those measures are
connected with large amounts of financing, the Minister noted.
The main sources of air pollution in Bulgaria are transport and
residential heating. Measures have been taken regarding the
cleaning of streets and construction activities, she said.
Gasification is another priority and is set within the municipal
programmes.

"We have the will and desire to stimulate gasification and
change the quality of the solid fuels being used. We are
undertaking a large programme for energy efficiency, which will
allow for the condition of residential buildings to improve and
lead to a more efficient way of heating," Vassileva said.

The Maritsa East 2 TPP does not report any exceeding of
environmental norms. The State-owned company published on its
website an official position, which denies the EEA's report
findings. According to the company this report does not reflect
the European Commission's official position and other European
Community institutions.

The head of the Executive Environment Agency, Vanya Grigorova,
commented a few days ago that the problem with dust particle air
pollution is due to the insufficient application of measures
which would lead to cleaner air in the cities. The measures
depend on municipalities and are difficult to apply, Grigorova
noted.