The Suffocating Grip Of Coal Report on the effects of coal burning on human health november 2013 Contents 1. Summary and key messages 1 2. Coal-fired electricity generation: (no) prospects 3 3. Coal-fired power plants in Bulgaria 5 3.1 Thermal power plants in Bulgaria: overview 6 3.2 Energy production and energy consumption 8 in Bulgaria: plans and reality 4. Air pollution from coal burning in Bulgaria: 12 myths and reality 5. Coal burning: effects on human health 17 5.1 TPP in Bulgaria: impacts on human health 19 5.2 TPP in the Maritsa basin: impacts on human health 23 6. Alternatives 27 7. Conclusions and recommendations 29 #1 Summary and key messages Air pollution is a key cause of a number of diseases in Europe and Bulgaria. This Key messages premature deaths – four times report of Greenpeace Bulgaria on the the death toll of road accidents impact of coal burning on human health Air pollution with sulphur dioxide in Bulgaria in the same year demonstrates the close link between and particulate matter (PM) per human health and the energy policy and generated kilowatt-hour (kWh) of strategy of Bulgaria. electricity in thermal power plants (TPP) in Bulgaria is one of the Reliance on coal and new nuclear highest in Europe. capacities on the part of the Bulgarian These facts, as well as the government is ill-advised from both Most TPP in Bulgaria have installed filters for capturing of current economic crisis, economicly and environmentally sulphur dioxide and nitrogen require a comprehensive wise. Most importantly, it implies an oxides. Even so, as estimated by restructuring of the approximately unacceptably high price, measured in Greenpeace Bulgaria, air pollution production of electricity human health and human lives. As a from TPP in Bulgaria in 2012 in Bulgaria. In particular, result, thermal power plants benefit at alone has lead to: they require reduced use the cost of human life and health. of fossil fuels, increased measures for energy efficiency and increased share of alternative energy sources. sick leave days 2600 cases of respitory disease in children and over 3000 cases for adults per day and restricted working ability for 3700 adults per day 1 HEAL (2013). The Unpaid Health Bill – How coal power plants make us sick. http://www.env-health.org/resources/projects/ unpaid-health-bill. 2 Greenpeace (2013). Silent Killers – Why Europe must replace coal power with green energy. http://www. 1 greenpeace.org/slovenia/Global/international/publications/climate/2013/Silent-Killers.pdf. 2 #2 Coal-fired electricity generation: (no) prospects Coal burning is not a deal for one more From an economic perspective From an ecological reason: the damage done to human perspective health. While the market cost of electricity from coal seems relatively low, it does not account Coal burning is one of the main When we talk about air pollution, we often for environmental damages (contaminated causes of climate change. In picture the old industrial days, chimneys water and farmland) and the damages 2010, 43% of all global carbon with black smoke and smog that permeats done to human health. We are, however, all dioxide (CO2) emissions were the entire city. Contrary to this, the most paying this price. associated with the use of coal; common air pollutants are quite invisible. the trend is for this share to They are microscopic particles, which enter According to the Directive on industrial increase. In addition to causing deep into our lungs and blood, causing emissions, electricity generation from coal is climate change, coal mining and inflammation, respiratory problems, blood subject to quotas for the emission of sulphur burning take up thousands of coagulation, toxic effects in many internal dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate acres of farmland and pollute organs, lung cancer and increase the risk of matter (PM). In the period 2008 – 2011 millions m3 of water. ischemic stroke. Bulgaria permanently exceeded the quotas for PM and nitrogen oxides. A potential This report considers primarily the health penalty by the European Commission would risks associated with coal burning. While the substantially raise the cost of coal-fired report does not consider nuclear energy and electricity generation. related problems, we consider nuclear power production as equally outdated and irresponsible from economic, social, health and environmental perspective.5,6 While the focus of this publication is on coal From a social perspective burning, the effects of coal-fired electricity generation go beyond this. The entire The coal industry positions its workers in an process of coal mining, transport, handling artificially produced conflict between serving and storage – from burning to disposal and their material needs and the desire for good recultivation – has a direct impact on the health and clean environment. The conflict environment, human health and communities between communities who bear the brunt living in (immediate) proximity to mines. It of pollution and the people who earn their has a significant impact on ecosystems and living by working at TPPs is often muted. waters and it generates greenhouse gases, including methane. Furthermore, coal mining and burning require enormous amounts of water, which makes coal the most water- consuming source of electricity. 3 Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 Nov 2010 on industrial emissions. http://ec.euro- pa.eu/environment/air/pollutants/stationary/ied/legislation.htm. 4 IAE (2012). CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion. High- 5 EJOLT Report No 14 (2013): Expanded Nuclear Power Capacity, Impact of Uranium Mining and Alternatives. 3 lights. http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/CO2emissionfromfuelcombustionHIGHLIGHTS.pdf. 6 Greenpeace, “End the nuclear age.” http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/nuclear. 4 #3 #3.1 Coal-fired power plants in Bulgaria Thermal power plants in Bulgaria: overview Before we discuss the health risks of coal-fired electricity generation in Bulgaria, let us review the energy sector in Bulgaria and the largest thermal power plants. 43% of Bulgaria’s electricity is produced from TPP AES Maritsa East 1 is newly constructed (2006–2011) and has a 670 MW coal (Figure 1). Nearly 40% of this falls on installed capacity. The plant is owned by AES (USA). Similarly to TPP ContourGlobal, Maritsa East 2. TPP AES Maritsa East 1 is located near the town of Galabovo and uses lignite extracted from the Maritsa basin. According to the company website, the plant is equipped with the most modern filters and technologies for treatment of fine particles.11 Brikel JSC is the fourth TPP in the Maritsa East energy complex. It is owned by the Bulgarian businessman Hristo Kovachki. With a total output of 200 MW, it brings together the oldest power plant in the region – TPP Maritsa East 1 – with the Briquette Factory. The plant is located at about 5 km from the town of Galabovo and TPP Maritsa East 2 is located near the town of Radnevo over nearly 512 ha. it is powered by lignite coal. The plant exhausted its quota of operational hours in The plant is state-owned (Bulgarian Energy Holding – BEH JSC). It has 1587 MW 2010 but continues to operate. It has sulphur and nitrogen oxide filters of dubious installed capacity and is the largest TPP on the Balkan Peninsula. It works on lignite effectiveness. When the license of Brickel JSC expired in 2011, the Ministry of coal obtained locally in the mines of Maritsa East Mines JSC. According to the Economy and Energy expanded it for another 10 years. The latest comprehensive Ministry of Economy and Energy (MEE), its eight generating units have filters for pollution permit of the plant from the Ministry of Environment and Water is as of April capturing sultphur oxides with efficiency above 94%, extending the lifetime of the 2013.12 equipment with 25 years.8 TPP Maritsa 3 is located in the eastern industrial zone of Dimitrovgrad and has 120 TPP Varna, has an installed capacity of 1260 MW and is the second largest TPP MW installed capacity. It works on lignite coal from the mines of Maritsa Basin JSC. on the Balkan Peninsula. The plant works on highly calorific anthracite coal supplied Together with Maritsa East 2 JSC, TPP Maritsa 3 is a state-owned subsidiary of BEH entirely by import at a special port. The plant has six mono-blocks of 210 MW EAD.13 installed capacity each. TPP Varna JSC is 100% owned by CEZ (Czech Republic). Its regulated market quota equals approximately one month of operation at full capacity, which effectively means that the plant serves primarily as cold reserve.9 ТPP Bobov Dol is located near the village Golyamo Selo, Kyustendil District. It has 630 MW installed capacity and works on brown coal extracted from the mines Bobov Dol. The electricity generation licence of the plant expires in 2021, and only one of the generating units was operational in 2013, according to reports in the TPP ContourGlobal Operations Bulgaria – the former Maritsa East 3 – has an popular press.14 908 MW of installed capacity. It is located near the town of Galabovo. Since 2011 it is jointly owned by the ContourGlobal (USA) and the National Electric Company (NEC). The plant works on lignite coal extracted at Maritsa East Mines. The plant has TPP Rousse has an installed capacity of 400 MW. In 2013 Toplofikacia Rousse JCS been modernised and according to data from its owners, it is an “ecological leader” was acquired by Topolofikacia Pleven JSC – owned by Hristo Kovachki. The plant works on imported anthracite coal.15 in the region.10 11 AES company website. http://www-origin.aes.com/Business/Generation.aspx 12 Energoproekt AD company website. http://www.energoproekt.bg.