A frank conversation is needed about the future of coal energy and clear conditions for preserving jobs and the prospects of the region of the "Maritsa-East" complex. This was stated by President Radev, who took part in the Radnevo holidays, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the decree that created the city, BNR reports.
The head of state stated that our country needs its own energy sources to guarantee our security and therefore is doing everything possible to extend the operation of coal plants, including in Europe.
"And there is nothing to hide, the fate of the city is also largely connected with the future of coal plants. Therefore, your sensitivity and desire for more clarity on this future is also understandable. I fully understand and share the concern about the social cost associated with the fate of coal plants. But it is high time that all of us in Bulgaria understand and recognize that the electricity produced here is much more than your prosperity and security. It is the basis of the security and prosperity of the whole of Bulgaria, because recent years have clearly highlighted the trend for the extremely important role of the presence of secured national resources, for the defense of state interests, for the weight of a state in geopolitical processes. ;, Rumen Radev said in his speech.
He added that the energy transition should be carried out gradually and with a guarantee for the jobs of all these specialists in the region.
"But the trend for the future must also be clear and we must have this frank conversation both at the national and local level, but I am convinced that with its large capital, especially with highly trained specialists, Radnevo must remain and be preserved as the energy heart of Bulgaria. Of course, this must be done with the gradual introduction of new technologies that will make this transition to decarbonization possible, but also with the clear condition of securing jobs and a perspective for the region," President Rumen Radev said in his speech in Radnevo.