TPP Maritsa East 3 is now selling electricity in the free market

Bulgarian electricity transmission system operator ESO said that coal-fired thermal power plant Maritsa East 3, operated by ContourGlobal, has stopped delivering electricity to the national network.

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The electricity purchase agreement between the plant and state-owned National Electricity Company (NEK) expired, and now the plant is selling electricity on the free market. At the moment, the plant is out of operation due to low electricity prices.

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President of the local chapter of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) Stefan Stefanov said that layoffs from the plant are not planned for now and the plant will try to operate seasonally, whenever electricity prices are favorable. It will use summer months for regular maintenance, and offer balancing services afterwards.

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Troyanovo-3 coalmine within Maritsa East basin has suspended operations for several months already, because TPP Maritsa East 3 has not placed coal order for six months.

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In 2009, ContourGlobal acquired TPP Maritsa East 3 and signed a 15-year electricity purchase contract with NEK. In 2022, ContourGlobal sold its stake in the plant to global private equity firm KKR. NEK holds a 27 % stake in the plant.

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