Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has asked the European Commission to help Central and Eastern European countries phase out coal in energy production.
Borisov said Bulgaria could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, while the Commission has proposed a 55% reduction at European Union level and the European Parliament wants a 60% reduction. Negotiations are underway to establish a common goal.
Reducing emissions by 40% is all Bulgaria can achieve on its own, Borisov said. He reiterated that the country strongly supports climate action, environmental protection and the development of low carbon, but that at the same time Bulgaria wants the European Commission to draw up a plan for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where huge amounts of energy are generated. coal, Bulgaria, for example, produces 60% of its energy from coal, he said.
To move forward with his idea, Borisov spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Bulgarian experts will soon send a letter to the EU executive with a list of issues the country will face if it accelerates coal emissions.
The commission urges Bulgaria to implement measures to support coal abolition
In the document, she urged Bulgaria to consider climate and energy-related investments and measures, including support for a clear timeline coal extraction strategy, as well as to ensure a smooth transition to coal and lignite-dependent areas.
NECP sets a 30% share of renewables in gross final electricity consumption by 2030 compared to 21% in 2020 and an increase of 43% for heating and cooling by 31%.
Between 2020 and 2030, the net installed capacity of power plants producing electricity from renewable sources is expected to increase by 2.6 GW (solar by 2.2 GW, wind by 250 MW, biomass by 230 MW). According to the NECP, in 2030 about 30% of electricity production should come from coal compared to 48% in 2020.
