But in the course of 10 years the institutions have been closing their eyes and the problem with the production of coal is an issue, both in its illegal and legal component. Here is the story in retrospection:
In 2005 production of coal starts on the ground of a 10-year concession in section “Gladno pole” next to the borders of forest-park “Ursa”. The concession belongs to the Belgians Phillip Wotley, Erik Briku and their Bulgarian partner Ivan Markov. The company Recoal digs up literally a few dozen meters away from the people’s yards. The concession expired on the 12th of May, but it is not clear whether the concessioner has ceased activity, until decision about the request for prolongation of the concession is made. The most affected of the local people want termination of the mining activities there; At all events a prolongation of the concession presumes serious public discussions, which haven’t been held at the start of the concession.
Ever since 5-6 years, after it became clear that the coal layers are very shallow, illegal coal production starts. It is done mainly by roma people. The groups are orderly organized, the labour conditions are nightmarish. Forest-park Ursata is covered with holes like a Swiss cheese – the vertical holes are 18 meters deep, without any safety guards – there is some talk about 13 dead cases up to the moment. The illegal miners cut wrongfully the trees in the park in order to use them in the shafts. It is a public secret that these workers pay 2 levs for a small sack of coal and it is asserted that the tax is paid to the security guards of “Recoal”. The same security guards don’t lift a finger to prevent the creation of illegal dumping grounds in the section of the concession – trucks throw away garbage along the periphery of the mine.
In the meantime it turns out that big areas of forest-park Ursata have been privatized - no one knows how and obviously without public discussion.
Two years ago a second mine, approximately a kilometer away from the mine of Rеcoal started again without any public discussion. The mine is already huge and comparative with the one of Rickowl. It turns out that it is neither in the concession register, nor in the register of the explorations – namely the mine is obviously illegal.
In April 2015 the unsatisfied neighbours of the Local initiative group “The neighbours of Rеcoal” organized an action of symbolic planting of trees along the road of the trucks, which carry out the sacks with coal from the illegal production. Several of the trees have already been demonstratively pulled out, and the local people guard jealously the remaining trees and fence them with whatever they find – thorns, tires and all kinds of hindrances for the poachers;
There is some talk about representatives of the mines, who go to speak to the people from door to door in order to beat the opposition;
‘For the Earth’ has sent series of inquiries within the Law for access to public information in connection with the case in Pernik – part of the answers will be presented at tomorrow’s press-conference.
The institutional and media actions of the last few days show renewed activity around the case. We sincerely hope, that this isn’t just a demonstration, after which there won’t be any real measures. Here is a list of the demands of LIG “The neighbours of Recoal” and “For the Earth”:
- Immediate ceasing of the mining activity in section “Gladno pole” in Pernik;
- Removal of the coal deposits in the section from the energy balance of Bulgaria – namely final discontinuation of the possibility to produce coal there;
- Recultivation of the terrains;
- Fines in the cases, in which the production or the explorations have penetrated into private or municipal terrains beyond the
border of the established concession;
- Compensations for the devaluated properties of the people, whose terrains border with the mines;
- Examination of all municipal and national institutions, which during the years have somehow missed to take measures against the occurrence, despite the numerous signals;
- Investigation of the privatization of forest-park “Ursa”
At national plan: Completion and acceptance of National mining strategy – a process which has already been frozen for several years
Report: Alternatives for the coal producing regions in Bulgaria
During the second part of the press-conference ‘For the Earth’ will present the updated in 2015 report “Alternatives for the coal producing regions in Bulgaria”. The report is a result of the long-lived work on the subject of finding of economic alternatives for the regions, which are dependent on the coal industry. The subject of finding of new working places is especially topical after the closing of TEP Varna and mine Chukurovo earlier this year.
We have created a special online instrument, which describes briefly the opportunities for work compensations, entrepreneurship and requalification of the redundant and quitting the mines or the TEPs. The informational tool and link to our report are accessible at: sledpepelta.zazemiata.org
We are expecting you at BTA or in front of the computer screens. There is possibility for us to receive the questions of the v
Illegal coal production: The landslide in Pernik from a bird’s eye view and Presentation of the report – Alternatives for the coal-production regions in Bulgaria
