• 85 000 households that use heating on wood and coal will have the opportunity to receive new environmentally friendly and energy efficient heating appliances for free thanks to funding from the Environment Programme
• Citizens wishing to take this opportunity should seek information from their local authorities
• Over 16 500 households replaced their old heating appliances with high-end air conditioners in the previous programming period

By the end of October 2023 the identified 21 municipalities with compromised air quality can submit their project proposals to benefit from the opportunity for residents to receive new environmentally friendly and energy efficient heating appliances for free under the Cleaner Air Programme (CEP). The actual implementation of the relevant activities will be in 2024.

The procedure is funded with 610 million BGN for the period 2021-2027 and targets 21 municipalities with compromised air quality. The beneficiaries are the municipalities of Asenovgrad, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Sofia, Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Gorna Oryahovitsa, Dimitrovgrad, Kardzhali, Lovech, Montana, Nesebar, Pazardzhik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Ruse, Smolyan, Haskovo, and Shumen.

Nearly 85 000 households using heating on wood and coal in these 21 municipalities will have the opportunity to receive new environmentally friendly and energy efficient heating appliances - in particular high-end air conditioners (air-to-air heat pumps) – for free.

In order to receive a new heating device for free, citizens living in any of these 21 municipalities will have to agree to make their old solid fuel devices available for recycling.

For households, the first step will be to submit an application to the municipality concerned, whereby they will also receive assistance from the respective municipal administration and free consultation with specialists on the most suitable new heating appliance. The municipalities will be obliged to dismantle old fossil fuel burning appliances and hand them over for recycling.

It is important for citizens to know that in 2024 they will be able to apply to their municipality. The periods and deadlines for collecting applications from citizens are likely to vary from municipality to municipality, so those wishing to take advantage of the grant should inquire directly with their respective municipality.

The supply and installation of the new appliances will be provided by the municipalities with funding from the Environment Programme 2021-2027, which enables Bulgarian citizens to achieve a healthier and greener environment for their families.

OPE results under priority axis “Improving air quality”

The Operational Programme “Environment” (OPE) reports positive results from the work carried out during the programming period 2014 to 2020 under the priority axis “Improving air quality”.

More than 16 500 households have replaced old wood and coal appliances with new environmentally friendly heating appliances - mainly high energy class air conditioners.

The programme funds have been used to purchase new environmentally friendly public transport vehicles - 296 electric buses, 60 trolleys, and 29 trams for the cities of Vratsa, Stara Zagora, Burgas, Sofia, Pleven, Varna, Haskovo, Pernik, Sliven, and Ruse.

More than 3 million Bulgarian citizens in the country benefit from the measures to improve air quality, and investments in the past programming period for this priority amounted to 625 million BGN.

For more information on the Operational Programme “Environment” projects, see https://www.eufunds.bg/bg/opos