A new over 1.580 billion leva will be allocated for energy efficiency of public buildings, construction of photovoltaic systems for small and medium-sized enterprises and transformation of mining areas in the three coal regions of the country - Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik. Special programs for innovations in research and development for defense technologies and construction of hydrogen production capacities, charging stations and provision of hydrogen vehicles for public transport are also planned in the Stara Zagora region. This was announced in Stara Zagora by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and Head of the Managing Authority of the “Development of Regions“ Program 2021-2027 Yura Vitanova. Today she chairs the Fifth Meeting of the Subcommittees for Just Transition of the Three Regions. The funds are provided by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works under Priority 4 of the “Just Transition” program. “Thus, investments in the three regions affected by decarbonization will reach over 2.7 billion leva,” summarized Deputy Minister Vitanova.
Currently, programs for over 1.170 billion leva are being implemented in the three regions, it became clear during the meeting. Of these, 190 million leva will be used to renovate 129 multi-family residential buildings. 250 million leva are earmarked for diversification and adaptation of small and medium-sized enterprises to the economic transition. “The interest in the measure is enormous. "1957 projects have been submitted for over 927 million leva. Contracts with the approved companies are expected to be concluded by the end of the year and the beginning of the next," commented the Deputy Regional Minister. Under the measure for support for industrial and logistics parks, with a budget of 149 million leva, 20 project proposals for 322 million leva have been submitted, which are in the process of evaluation. A contract has already been signed with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy for mapping the skills of indirectly affected individuals in the areas most affected by the climate transition, funded with 3 million leva. Projects for training, qualification and retraining of affected workers with a budget of 110 million leva are being recruited until April 15, 2026. The deadline for submitting proposals for production investments in large enterprises in the Stara Zagora region with a budget of 463 million leva expires on November 28.
Deputy Minister Vitanova informed that three new procedures are to be opened by the end of the year. One is for socio-economic transformation of mining areas, with a budget of just over 475 million leva. Projects for the transformation of mining areas and their preparation for alternative economic and business activities will be financed. The measure is aimed at the Ministry of Energy, the National Energy Operator, the municipalities in the three regions and the Electricity System Operator. 300 million leva are earmarked for pilot initiatives for energy communities and improving the energy efficiency of public buildings. The aim is to support the creation of energy communities and the production of energy from renewable energy sources in the municipalities of the Kyustendil, Pernik and Stara Zagora districts, as well as in 10 neighboring municipalities. Energy efficiency of state buildings, executive and judicial buildings, the Bulgarian National Radio is envisaged, and regional administrations, higher education institutions, etc. can participate as partners.
Nearly 142 million leva are included for small and medium-sized businesses to build photovoltaic systems and energy storage facilities from them, thereby promoting the climate transition in the Kyustendil, Pernik and Stara Zagora districts, as well as the municipalities of Nova Zagora, Yambol, Simeonovgrad, Harmanli, Topolovgrad, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Elhovo, Sliven and Tundzha. “We are in a rather dynamic implementation phase and the Managing Authority is in full mobilization mode to implement all the identified measures in the most effective way for citizens“, said Deputy Minister Vitanova. She also announced the launch of two new procedures for the development of innovations in research and development for defense technologies, which is also one of the main objectives and policies of the EU to strengthen defense security within the member states, as well as to create capacity for a hydrogen value-added chain in the Stara Zagora region“.
The measure to support innovations in research and development for defense technologies and dual-use solutions is worth 85 million leva. The aim is to create a Center of Excellence in which planning, conducting research, stimulating technological development and implementing innovative dual-use solutions will be carried out. The measure will be implemented in the Stara Zagora region by a subsidiary of “Sofia Tech Park“ in partnership with enterprises from the military-industrial complex, as well as the Military University in Veliko Tarnovo, the technical universities in Sofia and Gabrovo and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. It is expected that new jobs will be created, and our country will have highly qualified positions in defense research and development, contributing to the regional economy. Digitalization and digital technologies, artificial intelligence in the field of defense, etc. will also be developed.
The Municipality of Stara Zagora will be a specific beneficiary under the hydrogen promotion measure, and partners will be the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, local businesses, municipal enterprises, etc. The total budget is over BGN 263 million. They are for the design and construction of a complex for the production of green hydrogen, hydrogen charging stations, the supply of new hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen trailers for the supply of hydrogen, the construction of accompanying infrastructure, the construction of new photovoltaic systems and facilities for local storage of the produced energy (batteries) for the purposes of the production of green hydrogen, etc.
„The Managing Authority will strive to prepare Guidelines for applications under these two procedures as quickly as possible in order to enable the development of innovative ideas in the regions. I hope they will be interesting and that effective and innovative project proposals will be submitted and implemented“, said Deputy Minister Vitanova.
The Fifth Meeting of the Subcommittees for Just Transition was also attended by Deputy Minister of Energy Krassimir Nenov, York Lackenbauer and Agnes Tisay – representatives of the European Commission, the regional governors of Pernik and Stara Zagora Lyudmil Veselinov and Dr. Nedelcho Marinov, the Secretary General of the Regional Administration – Kyustendil Gergana Mihaylova, mayors and deputy mayors from the three regions, etc.