Exploring pathways for future development of post-coal mining areas

When a delegation from Karlovy Vary (CZ) recently visited the region of Stara Zagora (BG) in the context of the exchangeEU programme, the regions explored three overarching topics, described in more detail below. Through these lenses, the regions shared best practices, developed new ideas, and dug into innovative ways to overcome the most locally-relevant transition challenges.

Digitalisation and innovation

Both regions are exploring the development of a digital economy to attract new businesses, start-ups and SMEs for economic diversification, and to combat depopulation. The regions reflected upon their respective strategies; for their part, in 2021, Stara Zagora created the Zagore European Digital Innovation Hub. This Hub brings together actors from academia, businesses and NGOs to deliver a number of core services including developing digital skills and training, and supporting SMEs and other businesses to find investment opportunities. Karlovy Vary presented the Czech e-government strategy, which is widely used and includes, among other facets, a subsidy portal to make information on subsidies widely and easily accessible.

Recultivation of post-mining areas for tourism

Digitalisation also plays an important role in the regions’ recultivation of wider mining areas for tourism. Stara Zagora is well known within and outside of Bulgaria for its energy production. But the region also has a rich history, and consequently major potential for tourism that is currently under-exploited. This untapped potential was illustrated through site visits to the Regional History Museum and local Neolithic dwellings. In contrast, Karlovy Vary has already developed a flourishing tourism industry, offering a broad range of activities from glamping to thermal spas, all with UNESCO cultural heritage sites in the region. The delegation shared how they integrated tourism into other existing industries in the region, such as ceramics, porcelain and glass, as well as best practices like creating a shared cultural calendar, and re-invigorating existing tourist attractions through digitalisation or multipurpose use (e.g. using one space as a museum during the day, and a music venue at night). These served as inspiration as Stara Zagora evaluates how to elevate its tourist potential.

Renewable energy strategies

Currently, the electricity mix of both regions is dominated by coal and nuclear energy. The delegations thus focused on exploring approaches to replace those fossil fuels with renewable energies as their main energy sources. This topic is still in its infancy in both regions. However, Stara Zagora does have mature plans for the creation of a ‘hydrogen valley’, intended to accelerate decarbonisation in the region. Exchange on how to approach this topic proved valuable for both delegations, who discussed a potential partnership in this field to be explored in the future.

In light of the challenges identified during the exchange, participants took the opportunity to learn from each other's experiences, and to lay the foundation for fruitful collaboration. The regions are planning to meet again in Karlovy Vary in the context of the upcoming Initiative for Coal Regions in Transition’s fourth Annual Political Dialogue (registration open until 1 June 2023), and will jointly participate in the European Week of Regions and Cities in October 2023.