The management of the Minyor coal mine in the Bobov Dol mining complex has sent a letter to its majority owner, the Economy and Energy Ministry, asking to be bailed out of financial troubles, said CEO Ventstislav Alexov.

In mid-summer the Bobov Dol thermo-electric power plant (TPP), which is the principal client of Minyor, started downsizing its coal purchases and stopped them altogether in October. They told the mine that they had enough coal on stock.

Minyor mines coal at 250 m underground. 98 per cent of the output used to go to the Bobov Dol TPP, with monthly purchases at 4,000 - 5,000 t. "Our coal is among the cheapest, is conveniently located and has the right calorific value," Alexov commented. He sees no obvious reason for the TPP to stop buying their coal.

Alexov warned of risks from discontinuing operations in the mine, including fires and methane explosions, and said that decommissioning should be done upon special preparations and safety precautions.

To preclude the risks, mining at Minyor continues. The coal is piled at the exit of the mine but the CEO said that they have run out of storage space.

The mine has been able to sell small quantities of coal to brick and ceramics shops but is now left with no buyers as many of them have gone of out business with the advance of the economic crisis, said Alexov.

The Minyor miners have gone on strike to claim their unpaid wages. They have last got their wages for October and a small upfront amount (of 100 leva) for December.

Alexov says that clearly the mine is not in a position to pay the November and December wages.

The miners have threaten to go down in the pit with their wives and children.

Source: BTA