The renovation of the production facility of the state-owned dairy company LB Bulgaricum in Vidin (on the Danube) will start in September, caretaker Economy Minister Petko Nikolov said during Question Time in Parliament here on Friday.
The production facility wiill continue to be developed and improved constantly, because there are no plans to build another one in Bulgaria, the Minister said. There are plans for possibly building a scientific research laboratory in Sofia, which is a subject matter in the future contract which LB Bulgaricum hopes to sign with the Japanese company Meiji, Nikolov said, adding that this way the management of the Bulgarian state-owned company will direct the team's efforts towards achieving new goals which will reinforce the company's deserved place in the Bulgarian economy.
In order to achieve its goals of upgrading the production equipment and working conditions, which undoubtedly needs to be done, LB Bulgaricum and the Ministry will also rely on the Strategic Implementation Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as on the other opportunities that European funding would provide in parallel, Nikolov said. He said that with the autumn coming, the company's management would start renovating in phases the cold storage rooms and warehouses, repaving of the alleys leading to the workshops and the parking lot in front of the administration building. A review with technicians to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings and reduce electricity costs, as well as moving the work process, if possible, to photovoltaic power, is also due next week, the Minister said.
Nikolov said that there would be an investment for the smooth replacement of the new production equipment for the production of fresh milk, cow butter and processed cheese. Maintenance contracts have been renewed for air-conditioning units, shop windows and the entire technical condition of the finished product chambers in all the rooms at the Vidin production facility.
The Minister recalled that the commitment made has already been fulfilled and the salaries of the production workers have been increased by 10% retroactively from May 1, 2024. In September, there will be a further discussion on a new 20% wage increase, which was agreed on during a meeting with trade union representatives.
/YV/
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