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28 Feb 2018

Bulgaria: Govt. & domestic banks allegedly support coal mining & energy companies accused of labour rights abuses & environmental pollution; includes comments by banks & govt.

The report "The Financial Mines – Murky banking interests in the Bulgarian coal industry drain public funds, destroy thousands of human lives and heavily contaminate the environment” by Greenpeace details human rights abuses and environmental pollution by coal mining and energy companies in Bulgaria. It claims that the Bulgarian Government and domestic banks support these companies. 

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the companies and the banks mentioned in the report to respond. First Investment Bank and Investbank have responded. Corporate Commercial Bank did not respond because it no longer exists. The following mines have not yet responded: Chukurovo, Staniantsi, Cherno More – Burgas, Balkan 2000, and Fundamental. The heating systems of Burgas, Pernik, Pleven, Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Vratsa, and Sliven have not yet responded. The following thermal power plants have not yet responded: Maritsa 3, TPP Bobov Dol, and Brikel. We did not invite Mina Beli Breg AD, Mina Otkrit Vagledobiv, Vagledobiv Bobov Dol OOD and Toplofikatsia - Gabovo EAD as contact information was not available. 

We also invited Bulgarian government agencies to respond. Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, General Labour Inspectorate, Prosecutor’s Office and Public Financial Inspection Agency have not yet responded. The Ombudsman have responded.

Materials with full information and the responses & non-responses are below. 

Company Responses

Investbank View Response
Mina Staniantsi AD

No Response

Mina Chukurovo

No Response

Mina Cherno More - Burgas EAD

No Response

Mina Balkan-2000 EAD

No Response

Fundamental EOOD

No Response

Toplоfikatsia - Pernik EAD

No Response

Toplоfikatsia - Burgas EAD

No Response

Toplоfikatsia - Pleven EAD

No Response

Toplоfikatsia - Ruse EAD

No Response

Toplоfikatsia - Veliko Tarnovo EAD

No Response

Toplоfikatsia - Vratsa EAD

No Response

Toplоfikatsia - Sliven EAD

No Response

TPP Maritsa 3

No Response

TPP Bobov Dol

No Response

Brikel EAD

No Response

First Investment Bank View Response

Timeline