Bulgaria’s Cabinet would oppose attempts to close the Kremikovtzi steelmaker, which determined the fate of more than 70 000 employees in various economic sectors, a Council of Ministers’ media statement, issued after Kremikovtzi executive director Alexander Tomov announced a forthcoming change of ownership of the mill, said.

Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev discussed the situation with Deputy Prime Minister Ivailo Kalfin and Economy and Energy Minister Petar Dimitrov and called current chairman of Kremikovtzi Pramod Mittal. Stanishev told Mittal that the “explicit opinion of the Cabinet” was to not allow the liquidation of the mill, Dnevnik daily said.

Cabinet did not approve plans for the construction of a business zone at the place of Kremikovtzi. It was unacceptable to plan projects on the land of the Kremikovtzi mill, Stanishev said. Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov recently presented such a plan.

Mittal denied having had any talks over the future of Kremikovtzi with municipal authorities. He promised to inform Stanishev on his negotiations with potential strategic investors.

Mittal also refuted Tomov’s statement that Ukrainian billionaire Konstantin Zhevago would buy the plant. Mittal said he was in negotiation with three potential buyers, two from Ukraine and one from Russia, he said.

Kremikovtzi’s chairman promised to inform and wait for approval from Bulgarian authorities before deciding on the fate of the plant.

Bulgaria’s Cabinet insisted that all potential buyers of Kremikovtzi would discuss a possible deal with the Economy and Energy Ministry, the media statement said.