The environmental association “For the Earth“ and concerned citizens from Pernik sent an official invitation for a meeting with the Minister of Energy Traycho Traykov. The reason is the decade-long unfulfilled reclamation of the former coal mine “Recoul“ in the “Stara Teva“ neighborhood.
The mine stopped operating years ago, and the concession contract expired more than ten years ago. However, the terrain was never restored. Instead, it has become a constant threat to people – it creates dust and air pollution, and also poses risks of landslides and floods. The residents of Pernik breathe the dust of the past, and the institutions are silent.
According to the Law on Subsoil Resources, the concessionaire “Recoul“ AD was obliged to prepare projects for the liquidation and reclamation of the terrain, as well as to deposit the necessary funds into a trust account. This has not been done. And the control by the state - over the years of several successive ministers of energy - has simply been absent.
At the end of 2025, during a round table on unreclaimed terrain from the coal industry, the Ministry of Energy announced that a plan for the reclamation of the terrain in question is being prepared. However, this plan has not been published to date, there are no clear deadlines for its completion, and it is not clear whether the funds remaining in the trust account of the bankrupt concessionaire will be sufficient. And if they are not - no one says where the rest of the money will come from.
That is exactly why the citizens are demanding an urgent meeting with the Minister of Energy Traykov or with people authorized by him. They want to hear clear answers about when the project for the reclamation of the former mine “Hunger Field – A“ will finally be finalized and approved, who is responsible for the years of delay and how exactly the financing will be provided if the money is not enough. They also want to know specific deadlines – when the reclamation will begin and when it will end.
In addition, the people are demanding complete transparency throughout the process. They believe that the affected community has the right to be informed at every step – from the preparation of the documentation to the final restoration of the terrain. This is the only way to ensure effective civil control and prevent new delays.
Although Pernik is witnessing the end of coal mining and the city is developing as a modern city with a diversified economy, the legacy of the polluting industry continues to be heavy. Unrehabilitated mines are a source of pollution and attractive for illegal coal mining.
The senders of the letter insist on the following questions:
When will the project for technical liquidation and reclamation of the former mine “Hunger Field – A“ in the city of Pernik be finalized and approved?
Has the preparation of the project been entrusted to an external contractor and who is responsible for the delay?
What amounts are needed to carry out technical and biological reclamation? How will additional funding be secured in case the amounts in the trust account are insufficient to cover actual costs?
What are the deadlines for starting and completing the reclamation activities?