Eng. Kremen Georgiev, energy expert: "Bulgarian coal may turn out to be the strategic resource of the future"

"Coal is the only local Bulgarian energy resource that does not depend on imports. In this sense, it is a strategic raw material and reserve for Bulgaria." said Eng. Kremen Georgiev, chairman of the Association of District Heating Companies in Bulgaria and an energy expert with more than 30 years of professional experience, in an interview.

According to him, even if the world stops, we will be able to extract local coal and have at least electricity

Eng. Kremen Georgiev pointed out that with the development of technologies, Bulgarian coal may turn out to be the strategic raw material of the future.

"In many places, but especially in the USA, technologies are being developed that can extract not only heat, but also rare earth metals and other elements from coal. This is a vast area that can bring huge dividends for our country, as long as our state shows interest and invites similar companies to carry out their research activities in our country and give us access to these new technologies." explained Eng. Georgiev.

According to him, in Bulgaria, many mining enterprises are realistically looking forward to this opportunity.

"We are not talking about futurology, but about something very real," the energy expert specified.

When asked whether, in his opinion, there is a possibility in Bulgaria to develop activities related to the extraction of rare earth metals, Eng. Kremen Georgiev said that today our country has a regular government with a prime minister who is a balanced and reasonable person, as well as that exceptional professionals are appointed in important departments such as the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Economy. He pointed out that he sees young people there, in the prime of their lives, who would probably support the development of such technologies in Bulgaria.

"What could be better than being able to extract such strategic raw materials as rare earth metals from Bulgarian coal?" said the energy expert.

According to Eng. Kremen Georgiev, extracting rare metals from coal would be a real "greening" of the economy, a real "Green Deal", since these elements are at the basis of even the most environmentally friendly technologies.

The Chairman of the Association expressed high praise for the new course that Trump has taken towards fossil fuels and shared that he hopes that he will at least "bring" a little more common sense to Europe.

"The excessive "greening" of the economy, instead of moving it forward, is currently leading it to an abyss. One only needs to follow the news a little to answer the question of why there is a peak of conservative and right-wing movements in Europe. People do not want to sacrifice their income and the standard they are used to for the sake of imaginary battles with climate change." He said.

The expert indicated that he is a supporter of green policies, but within necessarily more reasonable limits. Eng. Kremen Georgiev explained that he personally does not see how our energy system will survive the winter without "Maritsite" and the Bobov Dol TPP.

"And don't forget that these plants were put on hold and they got away with it only because of mass protests. In fact, the battle for their future is not over yet." added the energy expert.

Regarding the heating season, Eng. Kremen Georgiev said that it is going relatively normally in the country, despite 2-3 more significant accidents in the capital. In his words, unfortunately, they are inevitable, especially considering the outdated heat transfer network. According to him, with the current economic parameters, he does not see how it can change for the better.

"When it comes to large district heating companies with a huge network, such as Sofia, it is really practically inevitable that accidents will happen. This is the truth, I prefer to say it directly than to gloss over it. There are also cities in the country where they have such problems less often." pointed out Eng. Kremen Georgiev and gave Pleven and Bourgas as examples as companies with a very low accident rate.

He said that this year, in general, the winter is not severe again, "but not quite subtropical, as we were used to in the last 3-4 years, so the Bulgarian energy workers - colleagues from the NPP to the smallest TPP, ESO, are doing well - there is both heat and light." emphasized Eng. Kremen Georgiev.