The Sofia center was blocked due to a protest by workers at the closed Maritza 3 Thermoelectric power station in Dimitrovgrad. They demand that the plant resume operations immediately. Demonstrators carry placards reading:
„Don’t kill the Bulgarian energy!“
„Green operation liquidates Bulgarian energy!“
The protest is entitled “Do not kill the Bulgarian energy! Preserve Bulgaria’s energy independence!” Employees are dissatisfied with the closure of the plant on April 21st by order of the Haskovo Regional Environmental Inspectorate as a result of violations of clean air standards, in particular sulfur dioxide.
The plan is for employees to cross the Lion’s Bridge through the Ministry of Environment and Water, and then reach the Council of Ministers and later the National Assembly.
Earlier today, Democratic Bulgaria MP Vladislav Panev commented on the discontent on Facebook. He distributed the following post:
“Today Kovachki gathers his workers to protest in front of the Ministry of Environment and Water against the closure of TPP“ Maritsa 3 „in Dimitrovgrad. Of course, they have the right to want to keep their jobs. But the blame for their loss is not in the ministry, but in the fact that the owner does not invest in ecology. At the same time, TPPs are operating at maximum due to high electricity prices.
I also have remarks to the Ministry of Ecology. That Brickel in Galabovo has not yet been forcibly stopped. The photo is from the beginning of May. For a week now, the company has been under repair and „the air is clean, there is no dust and odors, the children are playing in the yard.“ This is what the people there are writing to me and they hope that the TPP will not open at all. They are convinced that the workers are not protesting of their own accord.
They are forced to leave, including with threats. So years ago Peevski dumped people from Bulgartabac in Sofia and then fired them.
You remember that a month ago Asen Vassilev answered my question that Kovachki’s companies, including Maritza 3 and Brickel, owe over BGN 160 million in insurance. These days I am waiting for an answer and what actions the Ministry of Finance is taking to collect these receivables.
Especially Kovachki’s thermal power plants are disproportionately dirty, and their work has nothing to do with the price of electricity. Moreover, some of them are subsidized by the state, due to high-efficiency cogeneration. So closing down will not raise the price, and it is cheaper for all of us to cover the salaries of those working there for a while than for the citizens in the affected areas to suffer.”
