Farmers protest as they reject rescue package
The government has proposed a new memorandum with protesting farmers on a day marked by nationwide protests and road blocks for the second time in six months. "The only way to get out of this situation is to figure out how to help the farmers who need help, and not to hand out funds," Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said today.
Farmers criticise the government's proposed support of the grain production sector. They claim the package lacks economic competence in the light of annual tax returns that do not show the losses of agricultural producers, which have been increasing for the past three years. The 150 million levs offered to support sectors such as fruit and vegetable production, greenhouse production, viticulture, potato production, tobacco production, animal husbandry and beekeeping is also deemed insufficient.
Aurubis' production shrinks
Copper producer Aurubis Bulgaria, which is the largest company in the country with 8.2 billion levs in revenues in 2022, reduced its production at the end of last year. The plant near Pirdop and Zlatica processed 7% fewer concentrates for the October-December period, according to the German group's report for the first quarter of financial year 2023-2024.
Revenues of the unit for the production of metals from concentrates and copper products, to which the Bulgarian enterprise belongs, remained virtually unchanged on the previous year.
Renewables' grid connection gets easier
Renewable energy installations will be able to get a grid connection under a simplified procedure and on reduced terms, according to the provisions of a new regulation awaiting approval. This is good news for investors - there were about 2,500 applications for the construction of new renewable energy sources at the end of the year, with a total installed capacity of 7,188 MW.
Although some of these applications are speculative, the amended streamlined procedure gives reason for optimism in the sector.
Farmers protest as they reject rescue package
The government has proposed a new memorandum with protesting farmers on a day marked by nationwide protests and road blocks for the second time in six months. "The only way to get out of this situation is to figure out how to help the farmers who need help, and not to hand out funds," Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said today.
