Czech power utility CEZ, owner of the Varna Thermal Power Plant, has informed about the launch of a project for reducing sulphur and nitrogen oxides emissions and dust particles at three units of the plant.

The project will render the three units of the TPP compatible with EU environmental emission standards and will extend their life until 2023.

The investment in the Varna Thermal Power Plant, situated in Bulgaria's Black Sea city of Varna, amounts to EUR 100 M.

The designing and the construction of the purification installations will begin in 2013 and is to be completed by end-2015, according to reports of investor.bg.

The Varna TPP is part of the so-called "cold reserve" of Bulgaria's energy system.

The Varna TPP is connected to the national grid at the request of the Electricity System Operator (ESO) to prevent power shortages during peak loads.

In 2011, the generating units of the Varna-based TPP were used on 41 occasions, according to a media statement of CEZ.

Air pollution prevention measures will be implemented at units 4 to 6 of the Varna TPP.

While the emission reduction technologies are being installed, the Varna-based TPP will continue to be part of the reserve generating capacity and units 1 to 3 will supply electricity in case of necessity.

Units 1 to 3 of the "Varna" TPP will most likely be dismantled after 2013.

The Varna TPP is currently the second largest thermal power plant in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula.

The condensation-type TPP has a total installed capacity of 1260 MWh, including six mono blocks of 210 MWh each.