site.btaMinisters, TU Representatives, Management Agree on Bobov Dol TPP, Coal Mining Companies' Operation Back to Normal

ESD 18:21:00 06-09-2014
MY1820ES.105
105 ECONOMY - MINISTRY - BOBOV DOL TPP

Ministers, TU Representatives, Management
Agree on Bobov Dol TPP, Coal Mining Companies'
Operation Back to Normal


Sofia, September 6 (BTA) - The caretaker ministers of Economy
and Energy, Vassil Shtonov, and of Environment and Water,
Svetlana Zhekova, have met with the management of Bobov Dol TPP
and representatives of the trade unions, Shtonov's Ministry said
Saturday. Following a discussion of the situation involving the
local coal mines supplying the thermal power plant an agreement
was reached to bring the operation of the plant back to normal.


The deadline for the tests of the desulphurization plant for
units 1 and 2 will be extended until October 17 this year and
during this period the plant will be able to operate with a
total capacity of up to 330 MWh.

Unit 3 will remain as a spinning reserve. After October 17 Bobov
Dol TPP has undertaken to reduce the capacity of units 1 and 2
to a maximum 180 MWh, except if it does not have an additional
permission from the Environment Ministry to continue the tests.

The management of Bobov Dol TPP has also undertaken to organize
production in a manner corresponding to the maximum permitted
capacity and avoiding critical situations with coal supplies and
employment of the miners. Representatives of the trade unions
have confirmed their agreement to the extension of the test
period, the press release said.

Miners at the Bobov Dol mines went underground in a token
protest but refused to work in late August because of unpaid
July wages. The Bulgarian National Radio reported that the
miners also protested a decision by the Environment Ministry to
close one of the units of the Bobov Dol thermal power plant,
which will reduce coal supplies.

The Ministry decided to close the unit because it doesn't meet
environmental requirements./VI/BR