site.btaFire at Maritsa East 2 Plant Will Not Affect Energy System's Security - Minister Petkova

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Fire at Maritsa East 2 Plant
Will Not Affect Energy System's
Security - Minister Petkova


June 24 (BTA) - The fire that broke out at the Maritsa East 2 Thermal Power Plant (TPP) on Monday morning will not affect the Bulgarian energy system's security, Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova told journalists after checking the situation on site. The fire started from a rubber of one of the absorbents of Unit 8's sulphur-clearing installation, the Energy Ministry said Monday.

Unit 8 is subject to planned repairs until the end of August.

The fire caused Unit 8's chimney to collapse. "The most important thing is that no people have been killed or injured," Petkova said.

Petkova specified that the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water has measured the air quality and has established that it is within the norms.

She thanked the TPP workers for their quick and adequate reaction and the employees of Chief Directorate Fire Safety and Population Protection for ensuring no one was hurt in the incident.

The competent institutions will now review and assess the damage caused by the fire. The insurance company where the Maritsa East 2 TPP is insured has already been informed, the Energy Ministry said.

The other units of the TPP are working normally, except Unit 7 which is being repaired and is expected to be put into operation in July, the Ministry also said.

RY/DS
/ДЛ/