Over 2 billion BGN are the planned investments under the Just Transition Fund in 2025

Over 2 billion BGN will be provided by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) under the Just Transition Fund for investments in the regions of Pernik, Kyustendil and Stara Zagora in 2025. The funds are intended to support the development of the three regions that will be most affected by a reduction in the volumes of coal mining and electricity production, the Ministry reports.

It is planned in 2025. to launch 8 measures under Priority 4 "Just Transition" of the "Development of the Regions 2021-2027" Program, which are aimed at local business, municipalities, the non-governmental sector, those working in the "Energy" sector, etc. This was announced by the Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works and head of the Program's Governing Body, Yura Vitanova, who co-chairs meetings of the subcommittees for a just transition to the 2027-2021 RDP Monitoring Committee. in the three cities last week. They were attended by Asya Stankova - Chief Director of the Main Directorate "Strategic Planning and Programs for Regional Development" in the Ministry of Regional Development, the regional governors of the three regions who are co-chairmen of the subcommittees by location, representatives of the European Commission, mayors, experts from the ministries of regional development and public works, energy and labor and social policy, non-governmental organizations, business representatives, trade union organizations, regional government structures, etc.

Nearly 300 million BGN will be targeted to support energy communities to develop clean energy solutions. Over 262 million BGN are intended to support production investments in large enterprises in the Stara Zagora region. With 276 mln. BGN reclamation of mining grounds will be financed. 127.5 million BGN will be available for qualification and retraining of personnel, and 300 mln. BGN are for investments to build hydrogen production capacity. A measure for the construction of photovoltaic parks worth 41.8 million is also foreseen. BGN, as well as for the implementation of clean energy measures in enterprises for BGN 138.7 million. BGN 137.2 million have been pledged for research and development projects. BGN

Asya Stankova informed that by the end of this month, a procedure is expected to be opened to support those working in the affected sectors through training for qualification and retraining, which will have a budget of just over 110 million. BGN Of these, the resource for the Kyustendil region is 31.55 million. BGN, for the Pernik region – 5.54 million. BGN and 73.2 million BGN are for the Stara Zagora region and its 10 adjacent municipalities. Specific beneficiaries of the procedure are the 12 enterprises working in the "Energy" sector, included in the three territorial plans for a just transition of the coal mining areas.

Efforts are underway until the end of 2024. to announce three other procedures. The first is mapping the skills of indirectly affected persons in the areas most affected by the climate transition with an indicative value of grants of 1 million. BGN The second measure aims to support the diversification and adaptation of small and medium-sized enterprises to the economic transition with an indicative budget of 250 million. BGN, and the third - support for industrial and logistics parks and zones, the grants under which are in the amount of 140 million BGN. BGN

Deputy Minister Vitanova informed that thanks to the efforts of the interim government in June this year the first measure under the program, predicting energy efficiency of multi-family residential buildings, was opened. 329 projects from 24 municipalities in the three regions were submitted. They have a total value of about 455 million. BGN or twice more than the provided budget of 196 mln. BGN The projects are currently being assessed for administrative compliance and eligibility. Efforts are aimed at having the technical and financial evaluation ready by the end of the year, and at the beginning of 2025. to conclude the first contracts for the approved projects.