Bulgarian electricity and briquette producer Brikel has been ordered by the Ministry of Environment to begin the process of gradually shutting down capacity from September 1, according to a protest declaration of the miners’ union at the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB).

“We have requested Brikel to provide us by August 31 with a schedule for gradual closure of capacity,” said Darina Dimova, deputy director of the environmental inspectorate in Stara Zagora. Otherwise the company is facing a fine of BGN 2,000 to BGN 20,000, she added.

In line with its commitment as an European Union (EU) country, Brikel has the right to remain in operation up to 20,000 hours starting from January 2007 when the country joined the bloc. The company used up this allocation in April 2010 and has since then operated in violation of its comprehensive environment permit.

The production process could only resume after sulphur dioxide emissions have been brought in line with the EU norms. It was only at the beginning of August that Brikel appointed Germany’s Enviroserv to design and supply sulphur dioxide removal equipment. Installation works will span 21 months, according to the company.

The closure will affect around 2,000 workers at the plant and a further 2,000-2,500 in related production processes, the unions estimated.

“I feel for the people of Galabovo but I don’t see why unions should be pointing the finger of blame for Brikel’s closure at the state -- its owners have been aware of the commitment since 2003,” said environment minister Nona Karadjova.

She also noted that an infringement procedure has been launched by the European Commission (EC) against Bulgaria for excessive sulphur dioxide emissions.