Bulgaria: Protesters lamenting EU Green Deal rally in defence of Bulgarian coal industry

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Hundreds of workers representing the biggest thermal power plant in the Balkan peninsula, ‘Maritsa Iztok,’ took to the streets of Sofia on Wednesday to protest and demand an effective solution for the future of the mining areas amid plans of closure due to the EU Green Deal.

The protesters could be seen on the streets of Sofia with placards and banners as they demanded the independence of Bulgaria’s energy industry.

The protesters, who predict a severe winter and warn of a possible energy crisis, believe that the current agreement could lead to a social crisis due to high coal prices in the EU.

“For me this deal is a bit rushed and pressed. It’s good to have it, but for now we have no alternative than coal sources. No hydro electrical power plants, nor wind electrical power plants can substitute us and provide this electricity,” stated protesting miner Jivko Mitev.

Bulgarian workers want to keep coal mining alive until at least 2040. They marched from the centre of Sofia until the procession ended in front of the council of ministers.

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SOT, Yanko Kirchov , Miner (Bulgarian): “Nowadays the ‘green racketeers’ are destroying the Bulgarian energy sector. The electricity price is growing because of the high quota prices.”

SOT, Ivan Gochev, Miner (Bulgarian): “In the context of the EU green deal ‘Maritsa Iztok’ [thermal power plant] is the most damaged Bulgarian subject.”

SOT, Lubomir Bojurev, Miner (Bulgarian): “Actually coal has a 60 percent share of providing electricity in Bulgaria, comparing with other sources. In Poland, for example, this portion is more than 80 percent.”

SOT, Jivko Mitev, Miner (Bulgarian): “For me this deal is a bit rushed and pressed. It’s good to have it, but for now we have no alternative other than coal sources. No hydro electrical power plants, nor wind electrical power plants can substitute us and provide this electricity.”

SOT, Krasimir Krastev, Miner (Bulgarian): “We are asking for a slower transition period for our sector. It will allow us to have additional learning and training according to the upcoming exploitation of the actual mine.”

#Bulgaria #Sofia #EUGreenDeal

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