Bulgaria adopts development strategy for mining industry

The Bulgarian government adopted a 15-year mining industry development strategy on Wednesday in a bid to ensure a stable investment environment in this key sector of the national economy, officials said.

The strategy aimed at achieving the sustainable development of the mining industry in Bulgaria by safeguarding a "balanced economic, social and environmentally responsible approach to the exploration, mining and processing of mineral resources in the country," the cabinet said in a press release.

According to the strategy, Bulgaria would set up a system for monitoring the exploration, extraction and processing of mineral resources, with an emphasis on preventing illegal mining in the country, the press release said.

"The implementation of general and specific strategic goals of the document will create prerequisites and guarantees for sustainable development of the mining industry in Bulgaria in accordance with the EU raw materials initiative, and a uniform and clear government policy on mineral resources of the country," the cabinet said.

As a result of the strategy, the Balkan country could become a regional leader in the rational utilization of mineral resources by 2030, the cabinet said.

Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said the mining industry form 5.0 percent of country's gross domestic product and employs more than 24,000 people.