With increasing fears of global warming in recent years, the world is trying to get rid of fossil fuels and move to renewable sources. The European Union aims to be a leader in this transition to green energy and to stop using coal in the next two decades. The situation in Bulgaria, which is rich in coal deposits, albeit of low quality, is that there is no clear vision for the future of this industry and politicians are trying to delay the transition and compensate for the coal companies, not the people in the affected areas.
“The Last Days” is an ongoing project that aims to show how the coal industry reflects on the lives of affected communities. Some of the problems that people have are air pollution, soil and water contamination, burning of RDF and other trash as fuel both from local sources and imported from abroad, eviction of whole villages due to the expansion of open coal mines and the lack of another income and fear for the future in a part of the regions.
Through a series of portraits and landscapes and interior photographs, the author wants to show what is happening around the coal industry and to raise awareness and draw public interest in the fate of these people.
The last days
Kids playing football in front of Coal plant "Republika" in Pernik, Bulgaria.
The last days
View towards Golemo Selo village and "Bobov dol" power plant just meters away from the houses.
The last days
Zhlelyazko Zhelyazkov from Beli Bryag village is looking at the remains from a big fire in their village. The village is planned to be evicted in the next couple of years.
The last days
Illegal coal factory in Pernik, Bulgaria.
The last days
Closed, but not recultivated mine very close to the living area in Pernik, Bulgaria.
The last days
Old theater house in Beli Bryag village that is in the process of eviction.
The last days
Toni Ivanov 62, deputy major of Beli Bryag village in his office.
The last days
Sclupture close to Beli Bryag village.
The last days
Vasil Vasev major of Golemo Selo reading a story in a local newspaper for the coal plant and its reflection on the nearby villages.
The last days
The centre of Golemo Selo village and the nearby "Bobov Dol" coal power plant.
The last days
Marina, 86 years, in her home in the village of Beli Bryag. In 1980 Marina left her house in Golyama Detelina, a village that was erased from the face of the earth during the expansion of Maritza Iztok coal mines. At the moment she lives in Beli Bryag, the next village planned to be absorbed by the coal mine. There are only 17 houses left that are not purchased by the mine with about 40 resident people. Once Maritza Iztok acquires all of the properties it will start destroying the village, expanding the mine that is now just a kilometre away. Marina, her son, and the other villagers demand fair compensation so they can build new homes somewhere else.
The last days
The community center of Beli Bryag village. The building suffered a lot of damage and cracks because of earth layers displacement. The excavators working in the mine are only a couple of kilometres away from the buildings.
The last days
Detail from an abandoned house in the village of Beli Bryag. Maritza Iztok coal mine soon will absorb the village. Around 90% of the houses in Beli Bryag are already acquired by the mine. The people are taking the most important of their belongings and leave everything else behind.
The last days
Peter Tenev from Beli Bryag village is looking at the remains of a house previously owned by his relatives. The village is planned to be evicted in the next couple of years.
The last days
The old cemetery of Beli Bryag and the excavator that is working in the coal mine that is headed to the village.
The last days
The old bus stop in the village of Beli Bryag. The village is located about 5 kilometres away from the nearest city Radnevo. In the past, there was a bus every 30 minutes, and now there is no public transportation. 90% of the people have already left Beli Bryag because of the expansion of Maritza Iztok coal mines that soon will absorb the village.
The last days
Grocery store in the village of Troyanovo next to Maritza Iztok 2 coal plant.
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Detail from village of Troyanovo next to Maritza Iztok 2 coal power plant.
The last days
Remains from an old gas station in Beli Bryag village. The village is planned to be evicted in the next couple of years.
