A Turkish company has confirmed its interest to become a strategic investor in the Kremikovtzi steel mill, Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Petar Dimitrov told members of Parliament (MPs) on February 29, BTA reported.

Asked when the steelworks would pay workers' salaries, Dimitrov said that the ministry and the mill's management would do everything possible to defer current liabilities for an indefinite period. He expressed concern, though, that in this way the mill would accrue new debt that would most likely be transferred to the new owner of Kremikovtzi. A bigger debt burden would only further cut the chances to sell on the steel mill for a fair price, Dimitrov said.

Meanwhile, experts from the Regional Environment and Waters Inspectorate (REWI) said the mill has all the paperwork for the phased-out and safe decommissioning of its furnaces, according to a statement of the inspectorate quoted by investor.bg.

The check was carried out at the request of the Environment and Waters Minister Djevdet Chakurov on tip-offs from the mill's trade unions. Unionists claimed the furnaces might grind to a halt due to the under-supply of raw materials. Improper decommissioning, though, ran environmental risks, they added.