It is still not clear which ministry and when is going to draw up a map of the zones that will be allowed to accommodate renewable energy projects, showed a check of Dnevnik. The ministries of economy, agriculture and environment are all responsible for the development of a national Action Plan on renewable energy development. The project is being penned by the Ministry of Economy.

"We have submitted with the Ministry of Economy all necessary papers regarding the development of such a map - protected sites, land included in the Natura 2000 Network of protected species habitat sites, as well as a list of parks that have already been granted permission to host renewable energy projects," said the Ministry of Environment and Water of Bulgaria. The Ministry of Agriculture also said that the map should be prepared by the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.

Approached for comment on how far they have progressed with the development of the Action Plan, which includes a map of the zones eligible for renewable energy projects, the economy ministry said that the first draft has been completed. The document is currently being coordinated with the two other ministries with a view to producing the final version by the end of June. However, the economy ministry said it has not been tasked with preparing a map of the potential renewable energy sites.

Bulgaria's national action plan on renewables, which is due by June 30, is being prepared by a consortium between UK and Portuguese companies and financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Renewable energy should account for 11% of Bulgaria's gross energy consumption by the end of 2010, from 8.7% for 2009.