site.btaProtesting Miners in Radnevo Demand Long-term Programme for Maritsa East Mines

105 POLITICS - PROTEST - RADNEVO - MINES

Protesting Miners in
Radnevo Demand Long-term
Programme for Maritsa East Mines


Stara Zagora, November 28 (BTA) - Two thousand miners and power engineers from the Maritsa East coal mines gathered for a protest in Radnevo on Wednesday. They demand that by the end of February the government develops and introduces a long-term programme for the mines' work for the next 20 years.

Protesters called for a new energy strategy 2030-2050 that will include a schedule for the Maritsa East thermal power plants' (TPP) work in the coal complex, and for a clear national position before the European Commission on the dramatic increases of EU carbon prices.

The miners sent a declaration with their demands to the President, the Prime Minister and the National Assembly.

Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova reiterated her position that the Maritsa East 2 TPP is a baseload power plant of strategic importance for keeping Bulgaria's and the region's energy system stable, and that this country's energy security cannot be ensured without the coal-fired power plants.

Petkova noted that Bulgaria has applied for an indefinite derogation and that the State firmly opposes higher carbon emission prices.
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