Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Miners and workers in energy industry organize protest march in Sofia

Photo: BTA

A big protest march is currently taking place in Sofia’s central boulevards. Miners and workers in the energy industry, organized by the Podkrepa TU, are demanding the preservation of coal mining in the Maritsa coal basin and coal-fired thermal power plants.

The protesters want the government to take a clear position on whether coal mining will be preserved, and hence – the country’s energy independence. The EU еmissions trading system is placing the country in a position of disadvantage, Podkrepa TU president Dimitar Manolov said. At this time coal-fired thermal power stations provide around 45 percent of Bulgaria’s baseload electricity.

“The government stands firmly behind the Bulgarian miners,” said on her part Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, who came down to meet the protesters as the Podkrepa TU march reached the building of the ministry.

Meanwhile the court ruled against 12 of the miners from Bobov Dol mines who went on strike over unpaid salaries in May 2017. Defendants in this case are 87 protesting miners after the mines’ management brought an action before the court against them for declaring their protest illegal.  



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Rumen Radev in Hissarya

Rumen Radev: All possible routes for evacuating Bulgarians from the Middle East are being considered

“I am in constant contact with the security services, all possible routes and evacuation approaches are being considered,” President Rumen Radev told reporters last night in Hissarya, in a comment on the situation in the Middle East and the ways..

published on 6/15/25 10:06 AM

Sofia hosts 2025 WTCA Europe Regional Conference

2025 WTCA Europe Regional Conference begins today in Sofia and will continue until June 17, 2025. Hosted by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), the event will bring together industry leaders, innovators and visionaries from across..

published on 6/15/25 6:50 AM

Sunny and warm Sunday, seawater temperature is 22°C

During the night, the weather over most of the country will be clear and calm. Temporary increases in cloudiness are expected over the central and eastern parts of Bulgaria. It will be mostly sunny on Sunday. Cumulus clouds will develop in the..

published on 6/14/25 6:35 PM