Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Miners block centre of Sofia 

Photo: BGNES

Thousands of miners and energy workers, members of the two main trade unions, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) and the trade union "Podkrepa", gathered in the area between the buildings of the National Assembly and the Council of Ministers. 

The demonstrators demanded that Parliament vote to postpone the liberalisation of the household electricity market for at least another three years - from 2026 to 2029. 

"I work at the Thermal Power Plant 'Bobov Dol'. If they close the coal mines, they will close the TPPs. I don't know where we will go, we have no alternatives. The first 160 people have already been laid off at the Maritsa Iztok TPP. Of course we are worried about them and ourselves," one of the protesters told BNR. 

According to the demonstrators, the green transition is not a fair one, as the laid-off workers are being offered jobs that do not match their skills - as cooks and salespeople. They are also not being paid the promised 36 salaries as compensation.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Showers are expected across much of Bulgaria over the weekend

On Saturday, minimum temperatures will range from 8 to 13°C , around 9°C in Sofia. It will be mostly cloudy with rain in many areas. There will be temporary breaks in cloud cover over southern regions. Overnight into Sunday, cloudiness will begin to..

published on 10/17/25 7:05 PM

Fourth air ambulance helicopter arrives in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has received its fourth air ambulance helicopter.  “The new aircraft will be based at the Georgi Benkovski Air Force Academy hangar in Dolna Mitropolia. From there, it will serve a wide regional area and make a significant contribution to the..

published on 10/17/25 4:24 PM

BNR will host 2025 Public Broadcasters International conference

The Bulgarian National Radio will host the 2025  Public Broadcasters International (PBI) Annual Conference . The prestigious forum will be held from 20 to 22 October for the first time in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The theme of the PBI..

published on 10/17/25 3:34 PM