site.btaEnvironment Minister Comments on Renewable Energy, Air Quality

Environment and Water Minister Julian Popov commented on renewable energy and air quality in a Bulgarian National Television interview on Saturday.

Bulgaria is a leader in solar park construction in the EU, Popov said. "Bulgarian companies build solar parks and are operating in Japan, Chile, Germany and Saudi Arabia," he said. Some companies are working on very interesting wind and hydrogen projects, he added.

Popov recalled that coal will be impossible to use in Bulgaria after 2030.

Regarding plans by Belgium's Avesta Battery & Energy Engineering to invest in battery production in Bulgaria, Popov said that this country should develop such energy storage industries. Popov said the Maritsa-East coal-mining region has a potential to generate revenues of EUR 20-30 billion through energy production and storage. There will be no hazardous waste in battery production. At the same time, battery recycling has not advanced sufficiently because there is not a very big market yet, but it is advancing technologically.

Talking about air quality, the Environment Minister said the government increased fines for major polluters in the first week of January. The increase was long overdue because fines had not been raised since 2011.

Air quality in Bulgaria has been improving steadily, said Popov. Sofia won a case brought by the European Commission because the air indicators are improving, he said, adding: "However, we need to improve air quality over and above the EU requirements."