Novinite reported that around 1 200 workers of the ailing Bulgarian steel maker Kremikovtzi have been made redundant or made to retire in the recent months.

This figure was announced by the factory trade union leader Mr Vasil Yanachkov during Thursday's protest of the steel workers in downtown Sofia over their unpaid salaries and the grave danger for the fate for of the troubled plant.

Mr Yanachkov and his colleague from the other major syndicate, Mr Lyudmil Pavlov have announced that Friday's protest would be taking place inside the factory, and not in downtown Sofia.

The syndicate leaders also made public Thursday a letter from the Bulgarian state-owned natural gas monopoly Bulgargaz, in which the company threatens to terminate all gas supplies for the factory over its unpaid debts on May 12.

Currently, Bulgargaz is supplying Kremikovtzi with gas only for the basic technological maintenance of the plant, and for the operation of its furnace coke facilities.

Bulgargaz had agreed to provide gas for the furnace coke facilities since the Brazilian company CSN had expressed its interest in this production. As the negotiations with CSN have stalled, however, the gas supplier is planning to proceed with the termination of the supplies.

(Sourced from Novinite)