A new HRW report highlights how Bulgaria’s ongoing dependence on coal, particularly at the Maritsa 3 plant, exacerbates air pollution, jeopardising public health in coal-dependent towns and risking EU funding and climate targets.
Bulgaria’s prolonged reliance on coal is worsening local air quality, endangering public health in coal-dependent towns and jeopardising the country’s wider energy transition, according to a new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report released on 8 December 2025. The 45‑page analysis focuses on Dimitrovgrad, where the ageing Maritsa 3 lignite power plant is identified as a principal contributor to dangerous sulphur dioxide and particulate pollution that harms residents , especially children.
According to the original report, HRW’s data analysis shows that the strongest predictor of sulphur dioxide levels measured in Dimitrovgrad is whether Maritsa 3 is operating, even after controlling for weather and emissions from other plants. The NGO found high local rates of respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma, and linked chronic exposures to reduced school attendance and repeated hospitalisations among children. A seven‑year‑old boy in Dimitrovgrad told HRW: “I want the government to know that I no longer want to be sick and that I want clean air to breathe.”
“Bulgaria’s continued reliance on coal is costing lives and holding back the country’s energy transition,” HRW senior environmental advocate Myrto Tilianaki said in the report. HRW notes that Bulgaria’s 2023 decision to postpone the national coal phaseout to 2038 diverges from more ambitious timelines adopted by several other coal‑reliant EU states and increases the risk of breaching the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive, which requires strengthened standards by December 2026 and full compliance by 2030.
Independent research reinforces the public‑health and economic stakes. The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air estimates that maintaining current coal operations until 2038 would result in thousands of premature deaths and impose multi‑billion euro costs on the Bulgarian economy, while accelerated phaseout scenarios could prevent many of those deaths and save up to €10 billion in health and economic burdens. Activist groups have also drawn public attention to the local impacts , Greenpeace activists staged high‑profile protests at Maritsa 3, emphasising that the plant emits disproportionate sulphur dioxide relative to its contribution to national electricity generation.
The operator of Maritsa 3, TPP Maritsa 3 AD, acknowledged in correspondence with HRW that the plant contributes to sulphur dioxide levels but stressed that its emissions comply with current limits and that it is assessing measures to meet the forthcoming, stricter rules. Government agencies say they plan to tighten air regulations by 2026; HRW and independent analysts caution that even intermittent operation of Maritsa 3 risks frequent exceedances once the new standards take effect.
Beyond health harms, HRW warns that delays to a credible coal‑exit roadmap are already imperilling EU transition funding. The report states that repeated postponements of reforms have put around €1.2 billion in Just Transition funding and parts of Bulgaria’s Recovery and Resilience Facility at risk, reducing the finance available for worker re‑skilling, community regeneration and deployment of renewables and grid upgrades.
For industrial decarbonisation stakeholders, the HRW findings underline three interlinked priorities: align national coal‑exit timelines with EU air and climate obligations, accelerate investment in replacement clean generation and grid flexibility, and design targeted social and economic measures to ensure a just transition for workers and host communities. As HRW put it, setting a 2030 coal phaseout date and mobilising existing EU funding mechanisms are “vital to protect health, honor [Bulgaria’s] EU climate commitments, and ensure a just transition toward a renewable‑based economy.”
Industry data shows that achieving those objectives will require coordinated action across policy, financing and project delivery , from rapid deployment of renewables and storage to clearer decommissioning timetables and ready‑to‑deploy transition packages for affected regions. Without such steps, the human and economic costs documented in Dimitrovgrad are likely to persist even as Europe tightens air quality and climate standards.
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/08/bulgaria-delayed-coal-phaseout-fuels-health-harm – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/12/08/bulgaria-delayed-coal-phaseout-fuels-health-harm – Human Rights Watch reports that Bulgaria’s postponement of coal-fired power plant decommissioning to 2038 contributes to hazardous air pollution, risks breaching new EU air quality standards, and hinders the country’s shift away from fossil fuels. The Maritsa 3 plant near Dimitrovgrad emits harmful pollutants, adversely affecting residents’ health, especially children. The report urges Bulgaria to end its reliance on coal, adhere to the 2030 phaseout deadline, and transition to a renewable-based economy.
- https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/air-quality-impacts-of-delaying-coal-power-plant-decommissioning-in-bulgaria/ – The Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) assesses the health and economic impacts of delaying Bulgaria’s coal-fired power plant decommissioning. The study estimates that maintaining current operations until 2038 would result in 5,500 premature deaths and economic costs of €14 billion. Accelerated phaseout scenarios could prevent thousands of deaths and save up to €10 billion, highlighting the benefits of expediting the transition to cleaner energy sources.
- https://greenpeace.at/cee-press-hub/breaking-greenpeace-activists-paint-%E2%80%9Ccrime%E2%80%9D-on-coal-power-plant-in-bulgaria-to-protest-impact-of-toxic-air-on-local-people/ – Greenpeace activists painted ‘CRIME’ on Bulgaria’s Maritsa 3 coal power plant to protest its contribution to toxic air pollution affecting local communities. Despite producing only 1% of Bulgaria’s electricity, the plant emits significant sulphur dioxide, leading to health issues like asthma and reduced lung function. In 2022, high pollution levels forced the plant’s temporary shutdown, but operations resumed with continued environmental concerns.
- https://www.miragenews.com/delayed-coal-phaseout-endangers-bulgarian-health-1585057/ – Mirage News highlights Human Rights Watch’s findings that Bulgaria’s delay in decommissioning coal-fired power plants to 2038 exacerbates air pollution, threatens new EU air quality standards, and impedes the country’s transition from fossil fuels. The Maritsa 3 plant near Dimitrovgrad is identified as a major source of hazardous emissions, negatively impacting residents’ health, particularly children. The report calls for Bulgaria to adhere to the 2030 phaseout deadline and shift towards renewable energy.
- https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/01/12/bulgaria-coal – Euronews reports that Bulgaria’s parliament voted to delay the phaseout of coal-fired power plants, aiming to keep them operational until 2038. This decision, supported by over 1,500 miners and utility workers, seeks to avoid early closure and protect jobs in the coal industry. The move diverges from Bulgaria’s previous commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 2019 levels by 2025, raising concerns about environmental and health implications.
- https://apnews.com/article/f837e5a67915400475c525384e56d1b4 – The Associated Press reports that Bulgaria’s parliament voted to renegotiate the energy section of its EU-funded post-pandemic recovery plan, aiming to prevent the closure of coal-fired power plants and safeguard jobs. The decision seeks to remove commitments to reduce carbon emissions by 40% from 2019 levels by 2025, allowing coal plants to operate without restrictions until at least 2038. This move has significant implications for Bulgaria’s energy transition and environmental commitments.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release from Human Rights Watch dated 8 December 2025, indicating high freshness. The report highlights Bulgaria’s delayed coal phaseout and its health impacts, with no evidence of prior publication. The inclusion of updated data on Maritsa 3’s emissions and health effects justifies a higher freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. No recycled content or republishing across low-quality sites was identified. The report is original and exclusive.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from residents and officials are unique to this report, with no earlier matches found online. The wording is consistent throughout, with no variations or discrepancies. This suggests the quotes are original and exclusive to the report.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from Human Rights Watch, a reputable international non-governmental organization known for its thorough research and credibility. This enhances the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims regarding Bulgaria’s delayed coal phaseout and its health impacts are plausible and align with previous reports on the subject. The report provides specific data and quotes, supporting its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with typical Human Rights Watch publications. No excessive or off-topic details are present, and the structure is focused on the main issue.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and sourced from a reputable organization, with no signs of disinformation or recycled content. The claims are plausible and well-supported by specific data and quotes, indicating a high level of credibility.
