GERB’s mega-project to build a waste incinerator in central Sofia failed after the public contract to build the incinerator was terminated. Sofia Heating published a decision to terminate the procedure on Wednesday evening as a logical end to multiple appeals and lawsuits after, in the future, only one eligible candidate remained.
The spokesperson of Democratic Bulgaria stated that the party had already warned that the construction of a Waste Incineration Plant in the centre of Sofia is a harmful and unnecessary project. They claimed that Democratic Bulgaria already had proof of the failure of this misunderstanding, fiercely defended by GERB-SDS.
The procedure allows an appeal of the Heating decision, but this will delay the process further and mean a 100% loss of European funding. And the lack of funding also means the end of garbage burning 2 km from the centre of Sofia.
Back in 2018. “Democratic Bulgaria” initiated a subscription for a local referendum, but the previous municipal council ignored it. The DB Municipal Councilors then proposed another referendum in which citizens decided whether to burn their garbage and breathe it. GERB-SDS rejected the proposal again.
At the awarding of the public procurement in 2021, “Democratic Bulgaria” pointed out that it was doomed due to mistakes in the project. The commission chose an association around “Mix Construction” as a contractor, in which Turkish and three Chinese companies are involved apart from the Bulgarian company.
Following an appeal, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that this merger did not meet the criteria required by the candidates. Accordingly, only one permissible participant remained – Bogomil Manchev and his son through their company GCR.
According to democratic Bulgaria, GERB-SDS’ persistence in defending this failed project has resulted in 6 wasted years for Sofia and the loss of a huge financial resource – 180 million. Lv. European funding.
Democratic Bulgaria emphasises that they add another 300 million to the account. Lv. , with which Sofia built the other RDF plant and the hundreds of millions they are willing to pay to several well-known public procurement players to take the garbage.
The Political party asserted that they should have used these wasteful funds to change the whole tax collection process and could have started separating, processing and using the waste as raw material instead of burning it in cement plants or dumping it in the landfills of Hostile and Jealousy.
Democratic Bulgaria expressed that the next mayor of Sofia and the new municipal councillors will completely change the waste management policy of Sofia in favour of a cleaner environment, less air pollution and a better quality of life for every citizen.