September 10 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's environment ministry said it has ordered thermal power plant (TPP) Brikel to suspend the operation of six of its boilers due to the unlawful use of biomass for fuel.
The suspension followed the detected use of biomass in breach of the operating licence of Brikel, the environment ministry said in a statement on Monday.
During their inspection of Brikel on September 3 the authorities have found evidence for the presence of biomass fuel on the conveyor belt taking fuel to an operating boiler as well as evidence for the storage of large number of straw bales with access to the coal-fired power plant located in southern Bulgaria.
The inspectorate's order takes into account the inability of Brikel to provide the necessary conditions for operating in line with the county's environment legislation.
The suspension of the operation of Brikel's boilers followed last week's shutdown of two boilers of the heating utility serving the town of Pernik, in western Bulgaria, for unlawful use of biomass as fuel. The shutdown was ordered by the regional environment inspectorate in Pernik.
TPP Brikel, located in Galabovo, in the Stara Zagora region, has six boilers with a rated capacity of 60 MW and four turbines with a rated capacity of 50 MW.