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Nikolay Doychinov

Аn open pit mine sits next to a residential area near Pernik. The mines produce lignite, the least efficient and most polluting type of coal.

Although the Bulgarian government continues to prop up the coal industry, more businesses ae choosing renewable energy to reduce costs. This small, local company, M+S Hydraulic, is installing solar panels on the roofs of its facilities and plans to build a solar panel structure over its parking lot.

The Troianovo 1 mine is one of the largest coal reserves in Bulgaria.

Elina Ivanova and her family moved back to her hometown of Pernik in 2018 after living in Dusseldorf, Germany. Her kids were one and three at the time, and had spent most of their childhood abroad. Almost immediately after returning to Pernik, their health deteriorated.

Fishermen in Bulgaria cast their lines at Pink Well Dam at sunrise next to the biggest power plants in the country: Brikel and AES Maritsa Iztok.