site.btaGovernment to Report to Parliament on Maritsa Iztok Coal Mines Future

The Council of Ministers will submit to the National Assembly a report on the implementation of three parliamentary resolutions related to the future of the Maritsa Iztok complex (which consists of the Maritsa East coal mines and three thermoelectric power plants), after the Cabinet approved a decision to that effect at its meeting on Wednesday.

The report covers the implementation of a National Assembly resolution of January 12, 2023, which obliged the Council of Ministers to amend the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) in its part on energy; a resolution of October 3, 2023, adopted in connection with an agreement between the Prime Minister, members of the Council of Ministers, MPs, and trade union organizations in the energy sector; and a resolution providing funding for the Mini Maritsa Iztok state-owned coal mining company for a four-year period to ensure the technical reclamation of disturbed ground in the Maritsa East Coal Basin.

The report stated that following a series of meetings between the incumbent government and the European Commission services, general agreement has been reached that the existing policies, measures, and market mechanisms provide an effective framework for achieving the decarbonization targets set out in the NRRP. In April 2025, Bulgaria submitted to the European Commission a new proposal for amendments to two key reforms:  decarbonization of the power sector and upgrading the state-owned company corporate governance in the energy sector.

Under the October 3, 2023 agreement between the Prime Minister, members of the Council of Ministers, MPs, and representatives of trade union organizations in the energy sector, the government undertook not to freeze or reduce the production capacity of coal-fired power plants in the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) group provided they operate on a market basis. The report to Parliament notes that the Council of Ministers has not imposed administrative restrictions on coal-fired plant operators, which continue to function entirely on market terms.

Regarding the provision of funds for Mini Maritsa Iztok to reclaim the disturbed land in the Maritsa East coal basin, the report states that a decision was adopted to increase BEH's capital by BGN 250 million annually over a four-year period. The funds are to be used specifically to capitalize Mini Maritsa Iztok and support all activities to restore the affected areas and achieve long-term sustainability of the site.

On May 2, 2024, the decision was submitted to the European Commission for an opinion on compliance with State aid rules. On July 30, 2025, the Commission confirmed that the reclamation costs concerned do not constitute State aid, thus giving the green light for the targeted use of BGN 81.3 million of the funds planned for 2025. A decision on the remaining funds is expected by the end of the year.