The local thermal power plants have until 2016 to bring their capacities in alignment with the EU's air pollution requirements. Private-owned Brikel and Maritsa Iztok 3 will reduce their annual production to 20,000 hrs after 2007, and will then be shut down as part of the energy ministry's measures connected with this country's accession to the EU. The energy ministry disclosed its plans after late last week experts said the Maritsa Iztok complex had polluted the air over the town of Stara Zagora. The ministry, however, dismissed the allegations. The three power plants of the Maritsa Iztok complex which run on lignite coal generate some 40% of Bulgaria's electricity. Bulgaria has pledged to curb by 2012 its CO2 emissions - whose main source are the thermal power plants - by 8%. By 2008 it should also bring the SO2, dust and nitrogen oxides within European standards. The PR officer of Hristo Kovachki, the owner of Maritsa Iztok 3 and Brikel, said they are discussing the size of future investments and will do everything within their powers to ensure that the plants remain in operation. Some plants can meet the EU requirements without having to install desulphurisation facilities if they use lower-sulphur contents coal, consultant Georgi Bosev comments. Bulgaria and the EU have agreed to postpone the closure of the Bobov Dol thermal power plant until 2008-2018. Some 80-150 mln euros, however, will have to be invested in the plant's refurbishment. Another two plants pending privatisation, in Varna and Rousse, are also to be modernised step by step. To meet the EU requirements, the owners of the local thermal plants will have to invest in their upgrade in the course of four years 1.2 bln levs, which is about 4% of this country's GDP. The future owners of the plants of Varna, Rousse and Bobov Dol are expected to outfit their capacities with new filters and desulphurisation facilities and to switch to a different type of coal. At present only two units of the Maritsa Iztok 2 plant have desulphurisation facilities, which according to energy ministry data, reduce the harmful emissions by over 92%. Japan's Mitsui will install such facilities at units One through Four within a rehab program that it is implementing. The program is to be completed by 2007 reducing the CO2 emissions 15-fold. The SO2 emissions are expected to be 94% less as of 2008, when desulphurisation facilities will be put up at Units Five and Six.