Deputy Minister Vitanova: Over BGN 2.5 billion will be invested for the development of the economy in the coal regions of Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik

More than BGN 1.580 billion will be allocated to the energy efficiency of public buildings, the construction of photovoltaic systems for small and medium-sized enterprises and the transformation of mining sites in the country’s three coal regions – Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik. Special R&D innovation programmes for defence technologies and the construction of hydrogen production capacities, refuelling stations and the provision of hydrogen vehicles for public transport are also planned in the region of Stara Zagora. This was announced in Stara Zagora by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and Head of the Managing Authority of the Regional Development Programme 2021-2027, Jura Vitanova. Today, she chairs the fifth meeting of the Just Transition Sub-Committees of the three regions. The funds are provided by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works under Priority 4 of the Just Transition Programme. “This will bring the investments in the three areas affected by decarbonisation to more than BGN 2.7 billion,” summed up Deputy Minister Vitanova.

Programs for over BGN 1,170 billion are currently being implemented in the three districts, it became clear during the meeting. Of these, 129 multi-family residential buildings will be renovated with BGN 190 million. BGN 250 million are provided for diversification and adaptation of small and medium-sized enterprises to the economic transition. "The interest in the measure is huge. 1957 projects worth over BGN 927 million have been submitted. Contracts with approved companies are due to be concluded by the end of the year and the beginning of the following year,” the Deputy Regional Minister commented. Under the measure to support industrial and logistic parks, with a budget of BGN 149 million, 20 project proposals for BGN 322 million have been submitted and are under evaluation. A contract has already been concluded with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy to map the skills of those indirectly affected in the areas most affected by the climate transition, financed by BGN 3 million. Projects for training, qualification and retraining of affected workers with a budget of BGN 110 million are being recruited by 15 April 2026. The deadline for submitting proposals for productive investments in large enterprises in the Stara Zagora region, with a budget of BGN 463 million, expires on 28 November.

Deputy Minister Vitanova informed that three new procedures are to be opened by the end of the year. One is for the socio-economic transformation of mining sites, with a budget of just over BGN 475 million. Projects for the transformation of mining sites and their preparation for alternative economic and economic activities will be financed. The measure is aimed at the Ministry of Energy, the National Energy Operator, the municipalities in the three districts and the Electricity System Operator. BGN 300 million are planned for pilot initiatives for energy communities and improving the energy efficiency of public buildings. The aim is to support the creation of energy communities and the production of energy from renewable energy sources in the municipalities of Kyustendil, Pernik and Stara Zagora, as well as in 10 neighboring municipalities. Energy efficiency of state buildings, objects of the executive and the judiciary, BNR is envisaged, and regional administrations, higher schools, etc. can participate as partners. Nearly BGN 142 million are included for small and medium-sized businesses to build photovoltaic systems and energy storage facilities from them, thereby promoting the climate transition in the districts of Kyustendil, Pernik and Stara Zagora, as well as in the municipalities of Nova Zagora, Yambol, Simeonovgrad, Harmanli, Topolovgrad, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Elhovo, Sliven and Tundzha. “We are in a rather dynamic stage of implementation and the Managing Authority is in full mobilisation mode in order to implement all the measures identified in the most effective way for citizens,” said Deputy Minister Vitanova. It also announced the launch of two new procedures for the development of innovation in defence technology research and development, which is also one of the EU’s main objectives and policies to strengthen defence security within Member States, as well as to create capacity for a hydrogen value chain in the Stara Zagora region.

The measure to support innovation in research and development for defence technologies and dual-use solutions amounts to BGN 85 million. The aim is to establish a Centre of Excellence to plan, conduct research, stimulate technological development and deploy innovative dual-use solutions. The measure will be implemented in Stara Zagora region by a subsidiary of Sofia Tech Park in partnership with enterprises from the military-industrial complex, as well as the military university in Veliko Tarnovo, the technical universities in Sofia and Gabrovo and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. New jobs are expected to be created and our country will have highly qualified positions in defence research and development, contributing to the regional economy. Digitalization and digital technologies, artificial intelligence in the field of defence, etc. will also be developed.

The municipality of Stara Zagora will be a specific beneficiary under the measure promoting hydrogen, and partners will be the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, local businesses, municipal enterprises, etc. The total budget is over BGN 263 million. They are for the design and construction of a complex for the production of green hydrogen, hydrogen charging stations, the supply of new hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen trailers for the supply of hydrogen, the construction of accompanying infrastructure, the construction of new photovoltaic systems and facilities for local storage of the energy produced (batteries) for the purpose of producing green hydrogen, etc.

"The Managing Authority will also endeavour to prepare as soon as possible Guidelines for applications under these two procedures in order to enable the development of innovative ideas in the regions. I hope that they will be interesting and that effective and innovative project proposals will be submitted and implemented", said Deputy Minister Vitanova.

The fifth meeting of the Just Transition Sub-Committees was also attended by Deputy Minister of Energy Krasimir Nenov, York Lakenbauer and Agnes Tisay - representatives of the European Commission, the regional governors of Pernik and Stara Zagora Lyudmil Veselinov and Dr. Nedelcho Marinov, the Secretary General of the Regional Administration - Kyustendil Gergana Mihaylova, mayors and deputy mayors from the three regions, etc.