site.btaMinistry of Regional Development: Over BGN 2 Bln from Just Transition Fund to Support Coal Regions in Bulgaria in 2025

Over than BGN 2 billion will be secured by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works through the Just Transition Fund for investments in the coal regions of Pernik (Western Bulgaria), Kyustendil (Southwestern Bulgaria), and Stara Zagora (Southern Bulgaria) in 2025, the Ministry said here on Monday.

Priority 4 Initiatives for Just Transition

In 2025, eight initiatives under Priority 4, Just Transition, of the Regional Development 2021-2027 programme will launch. These initiatives aim to assist local businesses, municipalities, NGOs, and energy sector workers. Deputy Minister Yura Vitanova, who leads the programme's Managing Authority, shared these details during subcommittee meetings under the Monitoring Committee of the Regional Development Programme 2021-2027, which took place in Pernik, Kyustendil, and Stara Zagora last week.

High-Level Meetings and Stakeholder Collaboration

Director Asya Stankova of the General Directorate for Strategic Planning and Regional Development Programmes at the Ministry attended the meetings, along with regional governors and co-chairs of the local subcommittees. Additional attendees included European Commission representatives, mayors, experts from the ministries of regional development, energy, and labour and social policy, as well as NGOs, business representatives, trade unions, and other regional bodies.

Fund Allocation for Clean Energy and Economic Transition

Several targeted investments are planned for 2025 to support Bulgaria's transition:

Nearly BGN 300 million will be allocated to support energy communities in developing clean energy solutions. Over BGN 262 million is designated for production investments in large enterprises in the Stara Zagora region. BGN 276 million will fund the reclamation of mining sites, while BGN 127.5 million will be used for training and retraining personnel in transitioning industries. Additionally, BGN 300 million is reserved for investments in building hydrogen production capacity.

Plans include a measure to build solar parks, with BGN 41.8 million designated for this purpose, along with BGN 138.7 million allocated for implementing clean energy initiatives within businesses. Research and development projects across the regions will receive BGN 137.2 million.

Energy Efficiency Projects Launched in 2023

Deputy Minister Vitanova highlighted that the programme's first initiative, improving energy efficiency in multi-family residential buildings, was launched in June 2024. A total of 329 project proposals from 24 municipalities across the three regions have been submitted, with a combined value of approximately BGN 455 million, more than twice the available budget of BGN 196 million. These projects are now under evaluation for administrative compliance and eligibility.