149 million leva from the Regional Development Program will be invested in industrial parks in the coal regions of our country

A total of 149 million leva will be invested in the districts of Stara Zagora, Kyustendil and Pernik for the development of industrial and logistics parks. The funds are allocated by the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works under the Regional Development Program 2021-2027 (RDP) through the selection of project proposals under the measure "Support for industrial and logistics parks and zones with a focus on the use of clean energy" within Priority 4 "Just Transition". This was announced by the MRDPW today.

The investments are targeted at five priority measures. The first is for the expansion and/or development of new industrial zones/parks with a focus on clean technologies in areas affected by coal mining and the existing energy infrastructure. The second supports the development of new economic activities and investment attraction, including resource efficiency and circular economy. The third measure aims to promote independent industrial parks by building renewable energy installations close to enterprises and using the green electricity they produce. Another measure is aimed at creating technology centers with a focus on clean energy technologies - for example, hubs, laboratories for the development of new products and technologies, as well as commercial distribution of products in priority sectors. The last one envisages investments in digitalization and digital connectivity.

The maximum amount of the grant for project proposals for candidates from the Stara Zagora district is up to 40 million leva, and for the Pernik and Kyustendil districts it is up to the maximum available amount of funds under the procedure and in accordance with the applicable de minimis/state aid regime, with no minimum amount required.

The provided grants will allow the construction of new or renovation of existing sections and facilities of the technical infrastructure in the industrial zones – water supply, sewage, electricity and gas transmission networks, internal technical infrastructure for the production of energy from renewable energy sources and storage capacity. They will also be used for digitalization and digital connectivity of the industrial park through broadband internet and cybersecurity, sensors and video analytics based on artificial intelligence for real-time monitoring of transport conditions and logistics, solutions for optimizing energy and water consumption, smart lighting, etc.

Projects for the construction or reconstruction of production and administrative buildings with adjacent infrastructure, as well as the implementation of digitalization and digitization measures, accessible environments, landscaping, recreational areas, the creation of bicycle paths, bicycle and car parking lots, charging stations, energy-saving lighting, etc. will also be eligible. The program also supports measures for internal research infrastructure - construction of laboratories, development of high technologies, facilities and technologies for the production, use and storage of clean energy, as well as technologies for the accumulation of electrical and thermal energy, heat pumps, production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin, electrolyzers and fuel cells. Technologies for carbon capture, utilization and storage, as well as energy efficiency technologies related to energy systems are also eligible.

The deadline for applications is 17:00 on 19.06.2025.

The full package of Application Guidelines is published in the UMIS. Applicants under the procedure may request clarifications on them up to three weeks before the application deadline. Additional questions on the Application Guidelines are asked in writing through the UMIS, module "Clarifications on the Procedure". The explanations are given with regard to the Conditions for Application, do not contain an opinion on the quality of the project proposal and are mandatory for each applicant.

Project proposals are submitted by applicants only in electronic format, signed with a qualified electronic signature in the UMIS through the "E-application" module.