August 19 (BTA) - Bulgaria's largest coal-fired power plant, the Maritsa East 2 TPP of Kovachevo Village near Stara Zagora (Southeastern Bulgaria), has obtained a permit from the National Construction Control Directorate to use natural gas as the principal boiler-firing fuel of its generating Unit Eight.

The modernization is part of a major project for the supply, construction and commissioning of an in-plant gas transmission network and gas control points for the facility's all eight units, which started in 2014. Under the project, five of the units (One, Three, Four, Seven and Eight) can already fire their boilers with natural gas, leaving fuel oil as a spare option.

The substantial environmental and economic benefits of the replacement of the boiler-firing fuel include a dramatic reduction of CO2, SO2 and particulate matter emissions, a decrease of heat losses during the combustion process, and tangible savings of repair costs.

A switch to natural gas for Units Two, Six and Five is forthcoming. RI/LG
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