Kremen Georgiev: Without Brickel, no energy company will be able to function according to the technical requirements

Energy companies and coal-fired heating plants will not be able to function adequately if they do not use the enriched fuel of the Brickel TPP and its briquette factory. This was explained to Dir.bg and 3eNews by Kremen Georgiev, chairman of the Association of District Heating Systems in our country. He also gave several examples of why it is important for the company to continue to exist.

"Brickel is not a large electrical powerhouse and should not be a problem stopping work." But the main role of the Brickel TPP is different. It is a unique enterprise not only in our country, but also in the region. The enterprise improves low-quality Bulgarian coal and creates enriched fuel, which is used in coal-fired power plants and heating systems," explained Georgiev. According to him, this is also the main role of the enterprise. "If this fuel is not available, every single energy facility will not be able to maintain its systems at the required level," explains Georgiev.

According to him, there is an option to use natural gas for heating, "but imagine what that means from a financial point of view." Moreover, gas as a support fuel cannot completely replace the enriched fuel of the "Brickel" TPP. It's just a technological feature. Also, no gas infrastructure currently passes in the vicinity of Galabovo and Brickel, and the state has not even planned for such. At the moment, the nearest gas connection is in the Dimitrovgrad region, where a tap node will be built to the Komotini - Stara Zagora gas interconnector.

It's just that all coal-fired heating boilers are designed for much more calorific fuel than what can be mined in Bulgaria. This technology in Bulgaria is well known and has been used for decades.

"Why exactly now did the authorities decide to terminate the operation of the Brickel thermal power plant?" Georgiev also asked himself.

"I don't see this being anything other than a PR stunt," he adds.

According to him, even the reports of violations, as claimed, are not ready yet. "A protocol from the meter that reports pollution can be seen practically immediately. The levels of the various pollutants can be seen immediately on it. And how long does this protocol take? I accept that this can be done in two days. And many days have already passed since the inspections of the enterprise, and practically nothing has happened to them," added the expert.

At the moment, some momentary increases in pollution are being commented on. The logic of such type of measurements everywhere is that there can be an error. "In my opinion, if by now there was something to show for the measurement as a finding protocol or act, it should have already been done. But why isn't he there?" asked Georgiev.

"If permanent increases in pollution occur at a certain production site, it is clear that the probability is that they are precisely from the enterprise. But in principle, the region of Galabovo is such that it is not clear where and what the wind can bring. It's just that the whole region is in such a situation," said Georgiev.

The expert recalled that the Brickel Thermal Power Plant supplies free thermal energy to social institutions in the municipality of Galabovo. Even if it becomes paid, the municipality's problem will be smaller if this heat energy is not there at all. "Furthermore, there was a statement by the resigned minister Borislav Sandov on the occasion of a 100 m long pipe to be used for supplies from neighboring plants. If this could be done and was economically profitable, it would have happened a long time ago at the initiative of the "Brickel" TPP, Georgiev believes.

He did not deny the fact that Brickel is one of the older plants in the Bulgarian energy system and it is normal to have emergency situations sometimes. ". For the operation of the briquette factory for the enrichment fuel, it needs steam. If this was necessary, then this project for a pipeline, which the resigned managers are talking about, would have been done by now. With one pipe, you can't scare the energetics, there's just no way. In this case, the goal is simply to focus attention on the work of a given enterprise," said Georgiev categorically.

He also commented on the situation in which heating systems will fall if Brickel's enriched fuel is missing. Heating systems using solid fuel in winter will not be able to work normally without Brickel fuel. Not in the ways classified as normal work, explained Georgiev. According to him, heating utilities, regardless of what fuel they use, have an obligation to provide service under certain parameters. "If it is not possible to stabilize the operation of the coal boiler with the corresponding enriched fuel, even with the addition of natural gas, then it will not be possible to reach these necessary parameters," explained the specialist. "Accordingly, the heat supply is violated, as well as the license parameters of work, although this does not depend on the heating system itself," recalled Georgiev. This fact will lead to problems for the company, and separately, the subscribers themselves will not be able to get what they expected," recalled Georgiev.

Also, enriched fuel from "Brickel" reduces the consumption of low-quality coal that is mined in our country. Better fuel also reduces equipment breakdowns – it also reduces the wear and tear of materials. It's just that the enriched fuel contains much less ash and moisture, is more caloric and does not emit so many harmful emissions, explained Georgiev.

It is precisely with the idea of ​​limiting harmful greenhouse emissions that all district heating companies have already taken action in this direction. However, the Green Deal will soon be a major issue for all businesses, the expert was emphatic.

In addition to him, experienced energy experts recalled why it is important for the energy capacities to work in our country. They are planned in the four corners of Bulgaria, and because of this, if one plant fails, problems are created in the country's energy system.