Before we call it a megadeal, let's say that in everything that comes out in the public space, there are a number of questions that need to be answered very accurately. Otherwise, this megadeal carries certain risks. And I hope that those who so enthusiastically sign and proudly declare that this is a wonderful investment will be so kind as to go into the details and check whether it really is so.
This was said by the chairman of the political party "Bulgarian Rise" Gen. Stefan Yanev, former acting Prime Minister and former Minister of Defense in the program "Bulgaria, Europe and the World in Focus" on radio "Focus".
Gen. Yanev commented on the news about the contract signed between Bulgaria and the German concern Rheinmetall for the start of a project to build a gunpowder and ammunition plant in Sopot with 155 mm NATO-standard shells and modular charging systems.
And he added: "The questions are related to whether this is an investment or a loan. Because we heard different information. Initially, we heard that we would have investments of the order of 1 billion euros, later we heard that this investment would be divided equally, i.e. the Bulgarian side, half of this 1 billion euros or roughly speaking 1 billion leva must be borrowed. And here is the big question and here is the big risk: who will take on this loan? The plant itself, the Vazov Machine-Building Plants, the state or someone else? Because we know how the banking system works, every loan must be secured".
Gen. Yanev emphasizes that every loan must enable some type of investment in order to have a return, asking the question after how long will there be such a return, when and how will it happen?
"There are mainly two accents in the media. One accent is that we are actually talking about two productions: one of gunpowder, the other of a certain type of projectiles, you mentioned them – 155 and their charges. Great. First, the question is: the gunpowder plant, if this is so, based on what technology will it be, because at least some of the gunpowder productions are an environmental challenge. We are not talking about the other fire hazards, explosion hazards, etc. In this industry, these dangers are foreseen and appropriate measures are taken. But in terms of environmental issues, it is very important what type of production it will be".
And he added: "The second thesis about the type of projectiles. It is interesting that we are talking about these shells now, but I have witnessed how 10 years ago and more, the same Vazovsky machine-building plants refused such an investment, similar, for an assembly line for such shells more than 10 years ago, which did not require a single leva of participation from the plant. Completely foreign investment. And now I ask myself: what has changed in these 10 years. Why now? But these are questions that we have no way of understanding the answers to at this moment".