Human rights and environmental organisations are intensifying pressure on the Bulgarian government to impose stricter controls on coal-fired power plants, following renewed evidence of severe air-pollution-related health problems in Dimitrovgrad and other towns in the country’s southeast.
The Human Rights and Environmental Responsibility Coalition (HRRC) issued a statement this week urging authorities to strengthen oversight of coal facilities, warning that children remain the most vulnerable to the pollutants emitted.
Dimitrovgrad, a small industrial town in southern Bulgaria named after communist-era leader Georgi Dimitrov, has become a focal point of national debate due to its close proximity to the Maritsa 3 coal-fired power plant.
Though the plant was issued an administrative closure order in 2022 due to repeated breaches of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) limits, operations have continued intermittently, prompting outrage among residents and environmental groups.
Alarmingly High Rates of Respiratory Illness
Medical data gathered by local health authorities and environmental watchdogs paint a concerning picture. According to recent assessments highlighted by HRRC, children living in Dimitrovgrad are 2.5 times more likely to suffer from acute upper respiratory infections compared with those in neighbouring municipalities.
Doctors report increased diagnoses of asthma, bronchitis, and other chronic respiratory problems—conditions closely linked to prolonged exposure to sulphur dioxide. Specialists warn that children’s developing lungs make them particularly susceptible to SO₂ inhalation, which can trigger inflammation and long-term damage.
“Each day that the plant continues to operate without proper environmental controls, it puts the youngest members of the community at unnecessary and unacceptable risk,” HRRC said in its statement. “The data is clear. The government must respond with immediate, decisive action.”
A Regional Outlier in Coal Pollution
Southeastern Bulgaria remains the only region in the European Union still experiencing persistent sulphur dioxide failures, despite EU directives requiring member states to significantly limit such emissions.
Environmental groups argue that Bulgaria has become an outlier largely because of lax enforcement by domestic regulators, including the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Executive Environmental Agency.
Reports indicate that at least four coal-fired power plants in the region have repeatedly failed to comply with EU environmental rules. Yet penalties have been infrequent, and oversight mechanisms remain weak.
“These plants are essentially allowed to operate with minimal scrutiny,” said an HRRC spokesperson. “Operators know enforcement is inconsistent and that violations rarely lead to meaningful consequences.”
Delayed Coal Phase-Out Draws Criticism
Neighbouring EU countries, including Romania and the Czech Republic, have accelerated plans to eliminate coal from their energy mix. Bulgaria, however, has pushed back its timeline to 2038—one of the slowest coal phase-out schedules in the bloc.
Environmental and public health advocates argue that the delay reflects political and economic priorities that place energy profits above citizen wellbeing. Coal continues to play a significant role in Bulgaria’s domestic energy sector, and efforts to diversify into renewables have progressed slowly.
“Bulgaria risks falling even further behind Europe’s green transition,” warned HRRC. “The government cannot ignore the human cost associated with this delay.”
Signs of Progress, but More Needed
Despite the criticism, there are indicators of gradual improvement. The Bulgarian government has announced plans to implement more stringent national air-quality regulations by 2026, following a damning EU survey that placed Bulgaria as the second most polluted country in the union.
Officials argue that these forthcoming measures will strengthen oversight and force operators into compliance. Yet residents of Dimitrovgrad remain sceptical, pointing to ongoing pollution episodes as proof that immediate action—not long-term planning—is needed.
“It’s difficult to trust promises when the air we breathe today is still dangerous,” said one parent whose son was recently diagnosed with asthma. “We need solutions now, not years from now.”
HRRC has called for the immediate suspension of operations at Maritsa 3 until it can meet EU standards, along with a comprehensive review of coal-sector regulations across the region. Whether the government will take such steps remains uncertain, but pressure from both domestic groups and EU institutions continues to mount.
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