Bulgaria’s caretaker government extends concession contract for Petrovitsa lead and zinc deposit

The caretaker government of Bulgaria announced that it has decided to extend the term of the concession contract with local mining company Gorubso-Madan for the Petrovitsa lead and zinc deposit, located in Smolyan Province, by 15 years. The extension was requested by Gorubso-Madan in order to extract the remaining metal ores in the concession area. The concession covers the extraction of lead–zinc ores and the contract was first concluded in 2001. Gorubso-Madan is a subsidiary of Bulgarian construction company Minstroy Holding.

The extraction of lead and zinc ore can have potential environmental impacts such as deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. The extension of the concession contract will allow for the continuation of mining activities in the area and may lead to additional environmental impacts if proper mitigation measures are not put in place. It will be important for the government to ensure that Gorubso-Madan is adhering to all necessary environmental regulations and that any negative impacts are addressed. Additionally, reclamation and restoration of the mined area after the completion of mining activities will be crucial to minimize the long-term environmental impact.