Miners and energy workers protest
A protest by energy workers and miners took place in front of the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers.this morning, effectively blocking the center of Sofia before noon.
The national rally was organized by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB) and the Confederation Support against the liberalization of the electricity market and in support of protecting workers in the energy and coal mining sectors.
Participants in the rally included workers from the Maritsa East complex, Bobov Dol TPP, Brickell TPP, and the Pernik District Heating Plant. Energy workers and miners insist that coal plants continue to operate even after the liberalization of the electricity market.
Delay in energy reform risks losing 1.3 billion levs
Bulgaria could lose an expected 1.3 billion levs under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) following today's official decision by parliament to delay liberalizing the wholesale electricity market by one year.
The proposal was supported in the second reading with 152 votes in favor from the parliamentary groups of GERB, MRF, Vazrazhdane, BSP, and There Is Such a People. Only WCC-DB voted against and/or abstained.
Under the currently effective Energy Law, the liberalization of electricity was supposed to gradually begin from July 1, 2024, when the National Electricity Company (NEK) would cease to be the public supplier. Instead, electricity distribution companies would take over this function, and conclude with the transition of household electricity to the free market at the beginning of 2026.
Program to fund 64 projects with 15 million levs
A total 64 projects will be funded this year under the Beautiful Bulgaria program, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy announced. The projects will focus on renovating and refurbishing kindergartens, schools, administrative buildings, community centers, health, sports, and social facilities.
The total value of the approved proposals is 14.8 million levs. Of this, 7 million is provided by Beautiful Bulgaria, with the rest co-financed by the beneficiaries.
It is expected that at least 650 people will be employed to conduct renovations, including more than 200 who are registered as unemployed at labor offices. Last year, the Beautiful Bulgaria project funded 47 projects with a total value of 12.1 million levs.
Miners and energy workers protest
A protest by energy workers and miners took place in front of the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers.this morning, effectively blocking the center of Sofia before noon.
