AES Maritza East 1 ceases operations, about 350 redundancies

The US-led coal-fired power plant AES Maritza East 1 in Galabovo is ceasing operations because its long-term power purchase agreement with the state utility NEK expires on 8 May 2026. About 350 employees of two companies at the site are being laid off from 1 Jun 2026, and the mass redundancy is registered with the Stara Zagora labour office; the Maritza East 3 plant had already stopped operating in 2025 after its contract expired (BNT, 30 Apr 2026; second source: BNR, 23 Apr 2026, which says "more than 300").