Brikel

Brikel EAD (Брикел ЕАД) is a Bulgarian energy and fuel enterprise headquartered in Galabovo, in the Stara Zagora Province of southern Bulgaria, within the Maritsa-Iztok lignite complex. It was created in 2000 by merging two state-owned enterprises: the Maritsa-Iztok 1 thermal power plant (ТЕЦ „Марица-изток 1“) and the Brikette Factory (Брикетна фабрика), both of which continued to operate as divisions of the new company. The company was privatized in 2004, and its ownership has been associated with businessman Hristo Kovachki; by the end of 2022 the nominal ultimate owner was reported to be the Briton Roy Kennedy. The company operates two main facilities located next to each other and processing mainly lignite coal from Mini Maritsa-Iztok. The first is the Brikel thermal power plant, which generates electricity with an installed capacity of 200 MW and is also used for the district heating of Galabovo. The second is the Brikette Factory, the only producer of briquettes in the country. According to the company's own website, the Electrification branch is the successor of the Maritsa-Iztok 1 thermal power plant and is essentially a thermal power station; the Brikette Production branch is the only briquette factory in the Republic of Bulgaria as of today; and the Heat Production branch was built in 1989 and entered operation in 1990 with 24 subscriber stations. Brikel uses lignite coal and biomass as fuels. Its stated environmental priorities include protecting air, water and soil quality, environmentally sound waste treatment, efficient use of materials and energy, and prevention of incidents or accidents. The company is an operator of two installations with issued integrated permits ensuring pollution prevention and control. By Decision No. 40-N2-I0-A0/2021 of the Executive Director of the Executive Environment Agency, Brikel EAD was issued a new Integrated Permit No. 40-N2/2021 for the operation of a combustion installation for the production of thermal energy with a nominal thermal capacity of 510 MWth and an installation for the production of hydrogen. The plant is located about 5 km from the town of Galabovo and 45 km from the city of Stara Zagora, bordering the Rozov Kladenets reservoir to the southwest. The company describes itself as a thermal power plant in southern Bulgaria and as the successor of the Maritsa-Iztok 1 thermal power plant and the Brikette Factory, which laid the foundation of the energy sector in southeastern Bulgaria.

Brikel EAD was established in 2000 through the merger of two state-owned enterprises: the Maritsa-Iztok 1 thermal power plant (ТЕЦ „Марица-изток 1“) and the Brikette Factory (Брикетна фабрика). Both continued to operate as divisions of the newly formed company. The Brikette Factory had laid the foundation of the energy sector in southeastern Bulgaria, and the thermal power plant was its successor in electricity generation. The Heat Production branch of Brikel was built in 1989 and entered operation in 1990 with 24 subscriber stations, providing district heating. A check conducted in the summer of 1988 of 225 enterprises across the country with risky and harmful working conditions placed the Brikette Factory at the Perva Komsomolska thermal power plant in a leading position, and it was decided to begin its general reconstruction or otherwise close it by 30 June 1989. The company was privatized in 2004, and its ownership has been associated with businessman Hristo Kovachki. By the end of 2022, the nominal ultimate owner was reported to be the Briton Roy Kennedy. Brikel operates two main facilities located next to each other and processing mainly lignite coal from Mini Maritsa-Iztok: the Brikel thermal power plant, which generates electricity with an installed capacity of 200 MW and is also used for the district heating of Galabovo, and the Brikette Factory, the only producer of briquettes in the country. The company uses lignite coal and biomass as fuels. In 2021, by Decision No. 40-N2-I0-A0/2021 of the Executive Director of the Executive Environment Agency, Brikel EAD was issued a new Integrated Permit No. 40-N2/2021 for the operation of a combustion installation for the production of thermal energy with a nominal thermal capacity of 510 MWth and an installation for the production of hydrogen. The company is an operator of two installations with issued integrated permits ensuring pollution prevention and control. Its stated environmental tasks include protecting air, water and soil quality, environmentally sound waste treatment, efficient use of materials and energy, and prevention of incidents or accidents.

• 2022

  By the end of 2022, the nominal ultimate owner was reported to be the Briton Roy Kennedy.

• 2021

  Brikel EAD was issued a new Integrated Permit No. 40-N2/2021 for a 510 MWth thermal energy combustion installation and a hydrogen production installation.

• 2004

  Brikel was privatized; ownership was associated with businessman Hristo Kovachki.

• 2000

  Brikel EAD was created by merging the state-owned Maritsa-Iztok 1 thermal power plant and the Brikette Factory.

• 1990

  The Heat Production branch entered operation with 24 subscriber stations.

• 1989

  The Heat Production branch of Brikel was built.

• 1988

  A summer check of 225 enterprises with risky and harmful working conditions placed the Brikette Factory at the Perva Komsomolska thermal power plant in a leading position, leading to a decision to begin its general reconstruction or close it by 30 June 1989.

Integrated lignite-based power, heat and briquette producer within the Maritsa-Iztok complex; the only briquette factory in Bulgaria.

• Electricity

  Generated by the Brikel thermal power plant with an installed capacity of 200 MW.

• District heating

  The Brikel thermal power plant is also used for the district heating of Galabovo; the Heat Production branch has 24 subscriber stations.

• Lignite briquettes

  Produced by the Brikette Factory, the only briquette producer in Bulgaria.

• Thermal energy

  Produced by a combustion installation with a nominal thermal capacity of 510 MWth under Integrated Permit No. 40-N2/2021.

• Hydrogen

  An installation for the production of hydrogen is covered by Integrated Permit No. 40-N2/2021.

1. 1Брикел ЕАД – Brikel Power (official website)brikel-bg.com
2. 2Brikel – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Брикел – Wikipedia (Bulgarian)bg.wikipedia.org