Environment Minister Warns of Pressure on Institutions over Kronospan Shutdown in Veliko Tarnovo

Diana Dukovska, BTA correspondent Stanimir Dimitrov

Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov gives a briefing, village of Ravadinovo, January 23, 2026 (BTA Photo/Hristo Stefanov)

Village of Ravadinovo, Burgas Region,

23.01.2026 15:22

(BTA)

Outgoing Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov Friday told reporters that safeguarding public health must be a primary concern. Commenting on the Kronospan wood-processing plant in Veliko Tarnovo, North Central Bulgaria, he confirmed that the company is implementing an administrative enforcement measure for the suspension of the particleboard production line until it complies with environmental protection requirements.

The technological process requires time for the installations to cool down and for fuel use to be reduced, so the lines are expected to be shut down on Sunday, Genov said.

"I understand every investor and the timber suppliers, but we must not sacrifice people's health," he stressed. The administrative measure is based on reports from the Health Ministry and months of monitoring of citizens' complaints about strong odours and discomfort.

Genov also said pressure was being exerted on institutions: "We are facing attacks from sectoral organizations, and even phone threats from Kronospan employees." The Minister urged workers who are concerned about their wages to address their employers. In his words, the company has repeatedly stated its intentions to invest in environmental protection projects and filtration systems, but no concrete actions have followed.

Construction works and upgrades were carried out at the plant's production lines without undergoing the mandatory environmental impact assessment required under the Environmental Protection Act, the Minister said.

Genov warned that other manufacturing enterprises across the country are currently under similar enhanced monitoring. Asked whether Kronospan's plant in the Black Sea city of Burgas was among them, he said there was no information indicating problems at that facility for now.

Genov was in Ravadinovo for the opening of a new site for the pre-treatment and composting of waste, which will serve the municipalities of Sozopol, Primorsko and Tsarevo.

On January 16, the Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water in Veliko Tarnovo ordered the suspension of operations on the particleboard production line at the Kronospan wood-processing plant following an unscheduled January 15 inspection prompted by numerous complaints about strong odours and haze in residential areas. On January 19, workers at the Kronospan plant in Veliko Tarnovo staged a protest against the suspension of operation.

On January 21, Kronospan manager Nikolay Bankov said the company's investment in the facility amounts to approximately EUR 300 million and provides direct employment to 300 people. He said the odours emanating from the plant are not hazardous to human health and are a result of drying wood. The company's revenue from this line amounted to EUR 100 million over the last 20 months.

/VE/