March 17 (SeeNews) - Bulgarian state-owned coal mining company Mini Maritsa Iztok said that it will suspend overburden removal activities during the March 17-31 period to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Mining activities will continue, and the nearby thermal power plants will continue to receive coal deliveries on schedule as there are enough quantities of already uncovered coal, Mini Maritsa Iztok said in a statement on Monday.
The coal mining company is also taking measures to ensure reduced physical presence of personnel needed for carrying out its normal activities, it said.
Mini Maritsa Iztok's coal mines in southern Bulgaria sell their output mainly to three thermal power plants located nearby, two of them owned by ContourGlobal and AES, respectively, and one state-owned. The power plants owned by ContourGlobal and AES contribute around 30% of Bulgaria's electricity output.