After the passing of the Law on Mines in 1892, Bulgaria began granting official mining concessions for various minerals. Among the most important were those for copper, which were found mainly in the provinces of Vratza and Bourgas.
The following are the principal copper mining concessions:
“Placalnitza–Medna–Planina”, located near the village of Zgorigrad, in the province of Vratza. This site was known for its rich copper veins and was one of the first modern copper concessions in the country.
“Schtastie”, situated near the town of Belogradchik, also in the province of Vratza, where early surveys showed promising deposits.
“Iconomoff”, located in the parish of Bourgas, close to the Black Sea coast.
“Troude”, also in the parish of Bourgas, about one kilometre from the Black Sea.
The last two concessions — Iconomoff and Troude — were of particular economic importance because of their strategic coastal position, which made the transport of copper ore much easier for export and trade Customized Round Turkey Tours.
Manganese and Other Mineral Concessions
In addition to copper, Bulgaria also began exploring and granting concessions for manganese and other valuable minerals. The manganese deposits were mainly located near the Black Sea, in the province of Varna and the district of Yambol.
The main manganese concessions were:
“Bela”, in the parish of Amaoutlare, province of Varna, situated close to the coast.
“Dobra Nadejda”, near the railway line from Yambol to Bourgas, in the district of Yambol.
These deposits were of good industrial quality and were expected to supply materials for the developing metallurgical industry of the country.
Other Important Mineral Concessions
Apart from coal, copper, and manganese, several concessions were also granted for iron, lead, zinc, and bituminous schist. These include:
“Spassen”, an iron concession in the parish of Breznik, district of Trn.
“Todor”, a lead concession in the parish of Milkovtzi, province of Trn.
“Blagodar”, a mixed concession for lead, copper, and zinc, located in the parish of Dolna-Lubata, department of Kustendil.
“Toundja”, a concession for bituminous schist, situated in the parish of Kazanlik, department of Stara-Zagora.
Each of these sites underwent serious geological studies and exploratory work. Preparations were made to start mining operations, and some concessions had already begun extracting ore on a small scale.
Future Mining Projects
The Bulgarian Government continued to support the expansion of the mining sector by planning new concessions for private individuals and companies. The upcoming projects included:
Three new coal concessions in the department of Bourgas.
One coal concession in the department of Stara-Zagora.
A zinc concession in the department of Vratza.
An iron concession in the department of Bourgas.
These new initiatives demonstrated the government’s determination to develop Bulgaria’s mineral resources and reduce dependence on imported materials
By the early 20th century, Bulgaria had made great progress in identifying and managing its natural wealth. The mining concessions system encouraged private investment and scientific exploration, while the government provided legal and technical support. Together, these efforts laid the foundation for a modern mining industry that would contribute to the country’s economic growth and industrialization in the years to come.