Bulgaria is ready with the plan for the Green Deal

Bulgaria is ready with the main parameters of the Recovery Plan, which affects the Green Deal and the transition to a low-carbon economy, caretaker Minister of Energy. Andrei Zhivkov, said on July 1.

He attended a conference dedicated to the Green Deal, organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria.

In Bulgaria, over 40% of electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants, which, however, should be shut down by 2030 due to the requirements of the European Union. One of the most problematic facilities is TPP "Maritsa East 2". It will survive again this year after the caretaker energy minister issued an order allowing it to sell electricity on the market for households.

"They will have the opportunity at times when the market price is favourable for them, to further load the capacity. In return, the plant is committed to reducing its costs," said Andrei Zhivkov.

"For the Green Deal, what we have done is to adjust the Recovery and Development Plan as it is already, because in the original idea it was quite lean, so what we have done is not little at all. We are at the stage of framework, a detailed elaboration of the projects is still pending, so at the moment there are no detailed estimates, but there will be," added the Minister of Energy.

The ministry's plan is the largest coal-fired power plants, those in the Maritsa basin, the state-owned and two US power plants, first to gradually start using natural gas as fuel and then to switch to renewables. However, one of the American-owned power plants commented that an analysis and a plan to be implemented are needed first.

"The transition to low-carbon electricity generation is a long process, choosing exactly which future technology should be decided on the basis of analysis, on the basis of data. On one hand, we should not jeopardize the energy system, on the other hand, should ensure that the transition will be the lowest cost to society," said Krassimir Nenov, executive director of ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3.

However, there are conditions for the change of technologies.

"Let us not forget that, first of all, it is important to have an investment climate that is favourable for the large investments needed to make such a transition, as well as appropriate predictability, to have an investment framework, ie to be clear under what conditions these investments will be invested," added Nenov.

According to the head of the plant, the future recovery plan as well as other EU programmes are a great chance for Bulgaria to meet the new environmental requirements of the community.

"There are funds that are provided for in the European deal. What is not clear enough at the moment is under what conditions these funds would be available to catalyze the attraction of private investment," said Krassimir Nenov.

And while power plants are considering what fuel to use and how to meet the Green Deal criteria, the move to higher environmental requirements is leading to increased demand for non-ferrous, rare and precious metals used in smart devices.

"About 200 kilogrammes of copper is needed by an average family of four for current needs and about four tonnes of metals per person. This deal creates new needs, for aluminum, copper, cobalt, zinc and lithium," said Iliya Garkov, vice president. Dundee Precious Metals.

However, this production is also subject to environmental standards.

"As an example, we have been working in this direction from 2009 to 2010 as a company and we already have a 40% reduction in the carbon footprint. With the intensification of production, digitalization of production and development of people's human capital so that they understand and know what is the meaning of this thing," added Garkov.

The company is ready to share its experience with other companies in the industry.

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