A high priority industrial zone should be created near the towns of Radnevo and Stara Zagora, said Bulgaria’s caretaker Minister of Economy Kiril Petkov. Minister Petkov and this country’s caretaker Minister of Finance Assen Vassilev talked with the trade unions at Maritsa East Mines and Maritsa East Thermal Power Plant 2. They backed the petition supporting the preservation of the coal complex and thousands of jobs in the region.

We must plan the funds under the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Just Transition Fund. The money earmarked under the Just Transition Fund amount to EUR 650 million and is allocated specifically to the coal-mining regions as a form of compensation. The Maritsa Basin produces about 40% of the total electricity in Bulgaria without the use of imported raw materials, reminded Minister Vassilev.