TheMaritsa Iztok Complex is the largestenergy complex inSouth Eastern Europe.^{[citation needed]} Maritsa Iztok 1 and 3 located entirely withinStara Zagora Province in south-centralBulgaria while Maritsa Iztok 2 is split with eastern neighboringSliven Province. It consists of threelignite-firedthermal power stations. The complex is located in a largelignite coal basin, which includes several mines, enrichment plants, a briquette plant and its own railway system. The development of the thermal power and mining complex at Maritsa Iztok began in 1952, but the lignite deposits used to be known well in the mid-19th century. The Maritsa Iztokmines and power plants are interdependent as the only market for coal is the power plants, while the power plants have no other supplier of coal but the mines.^[1]

Maritsa Iztok-1 (TPS AES Galabovo)
TPS AES Galabovo
Country	Bulgaria
Location	Galabovo
Coordinates	42°9′16″N25°54′41″E / 42.15444°N 25.91139°E /42.15444; 25.91139
Status	Operational
Construction began	June 2006
Commission date	3 June 2011
Owner	AES Corporation
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Lignite
Power generation
Units operational	2 X 335 MW
Make and model	Alstom
Nameplate capacity	670MW
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Maritsa Iztok-2
Country	Bulgaria
Location	Radetski village
Coordinates	42°15′14″N26°7′55″E / 42.25389°N 26.13194°E /42.25389; 26.13194
Status	Operational
Construction began	7 May 1962
Commission date	10 November 1966
Owner	Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD
Operator	Maritsa East-2 TPP
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Lignite
Power generation
Units operational	4 X 150 MW 2 X 210 MW 2 X 215 MW
Make and model	LMZ Electrosila
Nameplate capacity	1,465MW
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Maritsa Iztok-3
Country	Bulgaria
Location	Bulgaria
Coordinates	42°8′40″N26°0′12″E / 42.14444°N 26.00333°E /42.14444; 26.00333
Status	Operational
Construction began	1978
Commission date	1980
Operator	Energiina Kompaniya Maritsa Iztok 3 AD
Thermal power station
Primary fuel	Lignite
Power generation
Units operational	4 X 225 MW
Make and model	LMZ
Nameplate capacity	900MW
External links
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The complex is the largest source ofCO₂ emissions in Bulgaria with 142,913,573 tons emitted in2020.

Maritsa Iztok-1 is located nearGalabovo. In October 1998, the old power plant with a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) was privatized and sold to Consolidated Continental Commerce (3C), later purchased byAES Corporation. On 15 February 2000, AES and the Bulgarian grid operatorNatzionalna Elektricheska Kompania EAD (NEK) signed a 15-year tolling agreement, according to which AES has an obligation to replace the old power station with a new facility.^[2] In June 2006, AES started construction of the new 670 MW power station.^[3] It became operational on 3 June 2011.^[4] The new power station consists of two pulverised coal boilers of 335 MW each, two steam turbines, two generators and desulphurisation facilities.^[3] The plant was constructed byAlstom.^[3] It cost €1.2 billion.^[4]

Maritsa Iztok-2 is the largest thermal power plant in the Balkans.^[5] It is located 60 kilometres (37 mi) fromStara Zagora in the vicinity of the village of Radetski and the dam lakeOvcharitsa. The construction of Maritsa Iztok-2 started on 7 May 1962; it was inaugurated on 10 November 1966. Between 1979 and 1995 the power station was expanded by four additional units. 1977 and 1980 two new 325 metres (1,066 ft) tall chimneys were built. Maritsa Iztok-2 has a total installed capacity of 1,465 MW and generates 30% of Bulgaria's electricity. It consists of eight generating units, two of which are equipped withflue gas desulphurization plants. The rehabilitation of the older power units, including construction of FGD plants for units 1 to 6, are in progress.^[6]

Maritsa Iztok-2 is wholly state-owned. It is a subsidiary ofBulgarian Energy Holding EAD.^[7][8]

In November 2014 the power station was ranked as the industrial facility that is causing the highest damage costs tohealth and theenvironment in Bulgaria and the entireEuropean Union by theEuropean Environment Agency.^[9]

In June 2019 a fire thought to be caused by routine maintenance broke out on the smokestack of the flue gas desulphurisation system at Unit 8.

Maritsa Iztok-3 is Bulgaria's third-largest power plant. It is located 40 kilometres (25 mi) fromStara Zagora. The power plant has an installed capacity of 900 MW, which is produced by four units of each 225 MW. It has a 325 metres (1,066 ft) tall chimney.^[10]

In 1998, the United States power utilityEntergy Corporation purchased 73% of Maritsa Iztok-3 shares for US$375 million from the Bulgarian state. Entergy also has the obligation to modernize the power station.^[11] In 2002, the Italian power companyEnel joined the project; in 2006 Enel acquired Entergy's stake.^[3][12] At present, Maritsa Iztok-3 is owned and operated by Energiina Kompaniya Maritsa Iztok 3 AD, a joint venture ofContourGlobal (73%) and NEK (27%).^[13]

Enel is planning to invest in a new 700-800 MW coal-fired power plant next to the existing Maritsa Iztok-3 plant. The new power plant is expected to cost €900 million.^[3][14]

• Energy in Bulgaria

• Maritsa Iztok 2 power station (Bulgarian)
• Maritsa Iztok 3 ENEL power station