The CEO of the country’s largest steel mill Kremikovtsi, Alexander Tomov announced that the company expects to raise production by 38.5% to 1.8mn tons next year against 1.3mn tons this year. The steel producer would invest EUR 30mn to EUR 40mn in order to reach this target. Kremikovtsi, which is located in the suburbs of the capital city Sofia , plans to separate all non-core activities in detached companies, which should be sold in order not to affect the consolidated results of the company. Tomov announced also that Kremikovtsi would invest BGN 308mn (EUR 157.5mn) in environment projects in order to meet EU standards. However, the trade union in the plant as well as several environmentalist organisations have repeatedly warned that the statements coming from the steel producer about technological upgrades and environment protection are false and manipulative.