More than BGN 188 million from the Recovery and resilience plan will be invested in energy efficiency measures for sports and cultural buildings in the country

Landmark sites such as theatres, the Sofia Opera, libraries, museums, community centres, sports halls and complexes are being renovated.

Over BGN 188 million will be invested in renovation and energy efficiency measures in sports and cultural institutions across the country. The funds will be invested through the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, which is the Monitoring and Reporting Structure for the EU-funded investment “Support for the renovation of the building stock” of the National Recovery and Sustainability Plan. Following the screening and evaluation of the project proposals, the MRDPW published the approved and rejected sites for the implementation of investments under the procedure “Support for sustainable energy renovation of public building stock for administrative services, culture and sport”.

112 proposals for cultural and art buildings and 41 projects for sports buildings were approved.

Among the landmark sites that will be renovated with funds under the programme are the building of the Sofia Opera and Ballet, the State Satirical Theatre “Aleko Konstantinov”, the Drama and Puppet Theatre “Ivan Radoev”, the National Library “Ivan Vazov” - Plovdiv, the Drama Theatre - Lovech, as well as the Central Army Library of the Bulgarian Army in Sofia.

Renovations are also planned in a number of cultural institutions, including regional museums and libraries, theatres, cultural centres and art galleries. Among those approved for refurbishment and energy efficiency are the Garkovata House in the town of Koprivshtitsa, the General Suvorov Recreational and Cultural Complex in the town of Koprivshtitsa, General Suvorov Recreational and Cultural Complex in the town of Suvorovo, buildings for public services in the field of culture and art on the territory of Sofia Municipality and in Pomorie Municipality, Municipal Centre for Culture “Noncho Vodenicharov” in the town of Radnevo, the Municipal Theatre “Vazrazhdane” in the town of Septemvri,Art Gallery “Nikola Marinov” – city of Targovishte. Funding is also provided to the cultural centre in the village of Gabarevo, Pavel Banya Municipality, Regional Library “G.S. Rakovski”, Yambol municipality, a cultural centre in the town of Chiprovtsi, the cultural activities building in the town of Rakitovo, cultural buildings in Pomorie, Municipal Historical Museum – town of Breznik, the Cultural Homes in the town of Bobov Dol and Rudozem municipality, the Regional Library “Hristo Botev” and the Youth Home in Vratsa, the History Museum – city of Chirpan, Regional Library “N. Y. Vaptsarov” and “House of Culture” in the city of Kardzhali, Regional Library “Em. Popdimitrov - city of Kyustendil, the Art Gallery in the city of Smolyan, the “Complex for Culture and Art” in the city of Stara Zagora, the exhibition halls “Raphael Mihaylov” in the city of Veliko Tarnovo and “Sirach Skitnik” in the city of Sliven. The buildings of the City Library “Paisiy Hilendarski”, the city of Asenovgrad, the museum and library in the town of Dolna Banya, the Archaeological Museum “Veliki Preslav”, the Natural History Museum in the village of Cherni Osam, the municipality of Troyan, the Dramatic and Puppet Theater “Ivan Dimov” in Haskovo, the “Banner of Peace” hall, the town of Velingrad, the House of Culture “Mara Belcheva”, the town of Sevlievo, the National Agricultural Museum, the Youth Cultural Center - the city of Burgas, the Regional Historical Museum in the city of Shumen, the Regional Library “Stiliyan Chilingirov” in the city of Shumen, the Museum “House of Humor and Satire” in the city of Gabrovo and the Regional Historical Museum Blagoevgrad have also been approved for renovation.

The funds will be used to implement energy efficiency measures in more than 60 community centers in the country. Among those approved are those in Pliska, Kaspichan, Balchik, Zafirovo village, Glavinitsa municipality, Ekzarh Antimovo village, Karnobat municipality, Ognyanovo village, Garmen municipality, Velingrad city, Dolna Banya, Etropole, Dragoevo village, Veliki Preslav municipality, Aksakovo, Ablanitsa village, Hadzhidimovo municipality, Stara Zagora city, Lyulyakovo village, Ruen municipality, Zlatitsa city, Opaka city, Polkovnik Dyakovo village, Krushari municipality, Eleshnitsa village and Draglishte village in Razlog municipality, Alekovo village, Alfatar municipality, Kardzhali city, Kyustendil city, Glava village, Cherven Bryag municipality, Bolyarino village, Rakovski municipality, Aldomirovtsi village, Slivnitsa municipality, Brezhani, Simitli municipality, Spot town, Yakimovo village, community centers in Petrich town, Kolarovo village and Marikostinovo village in Petrich municipality; Orlov dol village, Topolovgrad municipality, Sofronievo village, Mizia municipality, Zgalevo village, Odarne village and Totleben village in Pordim municipality; Dalgopol town, community centers in Katuntsi, Sklave and Dzhigurovo villages, Sandanski municipality; Momchilgrad town, Nessebar town, Koriten village, Krushari municipality, Saedinenie town, Gulyantsi town, Smilyan village, Smolyan municipality, Dolni Chiflik town, Suvorovo town, Straldzha municipality; community centers in Gradets, Padarevo and Mokren villages in Kotel municipality; in the villages of Gagovo and Zaraevo in Popovo municipality, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Sevlievo village Skravena, Botevgrad municipality, Krichim town, Selanovtsi village, Oryahovo municipality, Ardino town, Kazanlak, Mihalich village, Valchi Dol municipality, etc.

In the “Sport” sector, the most approved projects are for the renovation of sports halls. Among them are “Yunak” in Ardino, “Asenovets” Multifunctional Sports Hall in Asenovgrad, “Nikola Petrov” Sports Hall in Gorna Oryahovitsa, Sports Hall in Zlatitsa, “Arpezos” in Kardzhali, “Spartak” in Pleven, “Diana” in Yambol, “Neftohimik” in Lazur complex in Burgas, “Hebar” in Pazardzhik, “Pliska” in Shumen, “Chavdar” and “Stoyan Nikolov” halls in Etropole, as well as the sports halls in Momchilgrad, Selanovtsi village (Oryahovo municipality), Rudozem, Plovdiv, Omurtag, Chiprovtsi, Breznik, Cherven Bryag and Svilengrad.

The projects for renovations of the Shabla sports complex, the sports building and stadium in the town of Popovo, the sports base in the town of Radnevo, the Tundzha stadium, the Septemvri complex in the town of Simitli, the Lokomotiv sports complex - the city of Varna, the Georgi Benkovski stadium in the city of Vidin, the Beroe stadium and a training sports hall in the city of Stara Zagora, the Rowing Base in the city of Vidin, the wrestling hall in the town of Bobov Dol, etc. have also been approved.

There are several projects for the renovation of indoor swimming pools – RC “Meden Rudnik”, Burgas, residential area “Elenovo-1”, Blagoevgrad, “Anton Mitrov”, Velingrad, Vratsa, etc.

The measure aims to achieve an energy consumption class of at least “B” after the renovations and to save at least 30% of primary energy. Among the eligible activities under the projects are current renovation to introduce energy efficiency measures, ensuring an accessible environment and building a hybrid photovoltaic system for the production of electricity for own needs, etc