And so begins the story of Chochko — a stork who, over the past few days, has become more than just a wild bird, but a true symbol of the kindness and compassion of the people of Ivaylovgrad.

Desislava Mitreva and Stoyan Iliev found the distressed stork in front of the apartment building where they live. The bird was on the ground and unable to fly. Every passing minute posed a risk, but Desislava and Stoyan did not leave him alone. They carefully managed to catch him and move him to a safe place.

Stoyan took the stork to his home in the village of Zhelezino and began caring for him in his yard. There, Chochko — as he affectionately named him — was given peace, food, water and, above all, human care.

With each passing day, the bird gradually grew stronger and regained his strength. He became accustomed to the presence of his rescuer and even began to behave like a true pet. He calmly wandered around the yard, watched the people around him and seemed to understand that he had found a place where no one would harm him.

Yet despite all the care and the visible improvement in his condition, Chochko was still unable to fly. And a stork’s place is not in a human’s yard, no matter how safe it may be. His place is high in the sky — above the fields, villages and rivers of the Eastern Rhodopes.

Realising that the bird needed professional veterinary care, Stoyan Iliev contacted Tintyava Exploration and asked for assistance in transporting Chochko to the Green Balkans Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre in Stara Zagora.

We responded immediately.

Representatives of Tintyava Exploration took responsibility for the stork’s safe transportation. Chochko was taken to Stara Zagora and placed in the care of the specialists at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, who have the knowledge, experience and facilities needed to determine why the bird is unable to fly and to provide the best possible care for his recovery.

Chochko is now where he can receive the professional help he needs. Everyone involved in his rescue shares the same hope — that he will make a full recovery and, as soon as possible, spread his wings once again in his natural environment.

This seemingly small story is, in fact, about something much greater. It is about people who chose not to remain indifferent. About Desislava Mitreva and Stoyan Iliev, who saw an animal in distress and chose to help. About Stoyan’s dedication in caring for Chochko for days. And about the specialists at Green Balkans, who have devoted their work to rescuing wild animals and returning them to nature.

For us at Tintyava Exploration, it was only natural to step in and provide the timely assistance Chochko needed. We believe that responsibility towards nature is not expressed through words and intentions alone. It is demonstrated through concrete actions — especially when the life of a living creature depends on them.

Chochko’s story reminds us that no single person can do everything, but everyone can do something. One person notices someone in need. Another reaches out a helping hand. A third provides the necessary support. And when people act together, kindness finds its way.

Sometimes, even the way back to the sky.

We wish Chochko a speedy recovery and believe that the day will soon come when he once again spreads his strong wings over his native region.

Because when there is humanity, compassion and unity, hope can always take flight.

Материалът When Kindness Gives Wings: The Story of Chochko the Stork е публикуван за пръв път на Тинтява Експлорешън АД.

The initiative is being organized for the fifth consecutive year by Maritsa Media and Hermes Media advertising agency. In 2026, the campaign expanded its scope under the theme “Mission ESG”, highlighting the three key pillars of corporate responsibility – environmental protection, social responsibility, and transparent corporate governance.

Leading by Example as the Foundation of Sustainable Development

The central event of the campaign was an open-air exhibition in Tsar Simeon’s Garden in Plovdiv, showcasing successful sustainability initiatives implemented by businesses and public institutions. The campaign promotes the idea that a successful company should be evaluated not only by its financial performance, but also by the way it protects the environment, supports its employees, and contributes to society.

The initiative also featured environmental education sessions for students, a children’s recycling workshop, the “A New Life for Every Read Book” campaign, and a dedicated ESG forum. Representatives from the arts, sports, business, and various professional communities also joined as ambassadors of the initiative, demonstrating the power of leading by example.

Responsibility Is at the Core of Every Sustainable Decision

For Tintyava Exploration AD, supporting “Mission Green Future” reflects the company’s belief that protecting natural resources and contributing to the development of local communities must be an integral part of modern business culture.

In the field of geological exploration and mineral resource development, sustainability requires the application of modern technologies, high environmental standards, safe working conditions, transparency, and continuous dialogue with society. These principles are also at the heart of the ESG framework.

By supporting the campaign alongside the Municipality of Plovdiv and a number of leading Bulgarian and international companies, Tintyava Exploration AD contributes to promoting best practices and strengthening public awareness of sustainable development.

We believe that a greener future cannot be achieved through good intentions alone. It requires concrete actions, shared responsibility, and long-term commitment from businesses, public institutions, and every individual.

Sources:
“Opening the Mission ESG Exhibition”,
“Mission Green Future Once Again Seeks Positive Examples”,
Municipality of Plovdiv.

Материалът Tintyava Exploration AD Supports “Mission Green Future” and Its New ESG Focus е публикуван за пръв път на Тинтява Експлорешън АД.

The project is located in the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad, Haskovo Region, in the Eastern Rhodopes—a region with a long geological history, significant mineral potential, and established traditions in mineral exploration.

For Tintyava Exploration AD, the Rozino Project is not merely a geological and technical undertaking, but an opportunity to develop a natural resource responsibly, create long-term economic value, and contribute to the local community.

An Investment of Regional Importance

If implemented, the Rozino Project has the potential to become one of the most significant investments in the Ivaylovgrad region. The planned investment exceeds EUR 250 million and is associated with construction, preparation, site development, and the required supporting infrastructure.

During the construction phase, the project is expected to generate substantial temporary employment, involving more than 1,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once the project enters operation, it is expected to create more than 250 permanent, well-paid positions.

In addition to direct employment, the project could create further opportunities for local and regional suppliers, subcontractors, and service providers in areas such as transportation, logistics, maintenance, construction, accommodation, catering, technical services, and other supporting activities.

In this way, the Rozino Project could contribute to a more active local economy, the development of new professional skills, the retention of people in the region, and the creation of a long-term economic outlook for the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad.

Geological Basis and Proven Reserves

The project is based on completed geological, exploration, and research activities. A Geological Report for the Rozino deposit, which includes the calculation of gold ore reserves and resources and the registration of a commercial discovery, established reserves of 11.3 million tonnes of ore with an average gold grade of 1.33 g/t.

These data form the basis for the development of the investment proposal for the “Extraction and Processing of Polymetallic Ores from the Rozino Deposit, Tintyava Area”.

For the company, reserves and resources are not merely technical indicators. They provide the basis for assessing whether the project can be developed in an economically viable, technologically feasible, and environmentally responsible manner.

What the Investment Proposal Includes

The investment proposal provides for the open-pit extraction of polymetallic gold-silver ores and their processing through flotation technology to produce concentrate.

The project includes the construction and operation of the necessary supporting infrastructure, the management of mining waste, and the phased rehabilitation of affected land.

It is important to emphasise that the project does not provide for the production of metal bars on site. The final product of the technological process will be a concentrate produced through flotation processing.

Stage of Development and Statutory Procedures

The Rozino Project is currently at the investment proposal stage and is undergoing the environmental, technical, and administrative procedures required by law.

As part of the procedure, an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and an Appropriate Assessment have been prepared. The project has also been assessed in a transboundary context due to the connection between the catchment areas in the region and the territory of the Republic of Greece.

Public consultations have been held in the affected settlements and in the municipal centre of Ivaylovgrad.

The project may only be implemented after all applicable procedures have been completed and the necessary decisions, permits, and approvals have been obtained from the competent authorities.

Environmental Responsibility

For Tintyava Exploration AD, the responsible development of a project begins long before its potential implementation. For this reason, systematic monitoring of various environmental parameters has been carried out in the area of the Rozino deposit since 2018, ensuring that project decisions are based on actual data, expert assessment, and long-term observation.

The monitoring programme includes biodiversity surveys during different seasons, the collection of meteorological data, measurements of water levels in boreholes, monitoring of water in Yuren Dere and Arpa Dere, assessment of soil quality and agricultural produce, as well as other environmental observations. The collected data were used in the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and form part of the company’s overall approach to the informed, responsible, and transparent development of the project.

One of the most important elements of the project concept is water management. The Rozino Project provides for zero discharge of industrial water into water bodies or sewerage systems. This means that water used in the technological process will not be discharged into rivers, streams, or other surface water bodies, but will instead be managed within a closed-loop system through collection, control, recirculation, and reuse.

The project does not provide for water abstraction from the Byala River. This is particularly important because the Byala River is one of the most sensitive issues for the local community and within the project’s transboundary context. Water supply and water management have been planned in a way that will not affect the hydrological regime of the Byala River or create a risk to its water quantity or ecological condition.

An additional safeguard for water protection is the separation of contact and non-contact water, the collection and control of water from operational sites, the use of drainage systems, and the return of collected water to the technological process. In this way, the project is designed not around the principle of discharge, but around the principles of management, control, and reuse.

Another important element of environmental protection is the proposed processing technology. The project provides for flotation processing to produce concentrate, without cyanide leaching and without the production of metal bars on site. This significantly distinguishes the project concept from other types of processing technology and forms an important part of the approach to limiting environmental risk.

Particular attention has also been given to mining waste management. The proposed solutions include controlled deposition, drainage systems, water collection, technical measures to limit infiltration, and the phased rehabilitation of affected land. The objective is to manage the facilities and processes in a manner that prevents uncontrolled impacts on soil, water, and the wider environment.

The Rozino Project has also been assessed in a transboundary context due to the connection between local catchment areas and the territory of the Republic of Greece. For this reason, the impact assessment also includes an analysis of potential transboundary effects. The proposed project measures—zero discharge, no water abstraction from the Byala River, a closed-loop water system, contact-water control, drainage systems, and monitoring—are intended to prevent impacts on downstream water bodies, including the Luda River/Erythropotamos and the Maritsa/Evros River.

On this basis, the project documentation does not anticipate any adverse transboundary impact on the territory of the Republic of Greece, the waters of the Erythropotamos, or other areas located near the project. For Tintyava Exploration AD, this is a key commitment—the project must be developed in a way that protects both the local environment and the interests of neighbouring territories.

The company regards environmental protection not as a formal requirement, but as a fundamental condition for the development of the project. For this reason, the Rozino Project is based on the principles of prevention, control, transparency, monitoring, and responsibility—before, during, and after any potential implementation of the investment proposal.

Long-Term Value for Ivaylovgrad

The Rozino Project has the potential to deliver tangible economic benefits to the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad and the wider region through investment, employment, opportunities for local suppliers, training, professional qualifications, and the development of supporting services.

Tintyava Exploration AD makes a clear commitment that, when recruiting personnel for the project, residents of the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad will be given priority where they meet the requirements for the relevant position or can be trained and qualified for it. The objective is to ensure that the greatest possible share of project-related employment remains within the local community and creates genuine opportunities for people in the region.

The company also plans to actively support the preparation of local workers through training, professional qualification, and the development of skills required both for project activities and for associated economic sectors.

In addition, Tintyava Exploration AD plans for the project to be linked to broader support for the local community. One of the planned initiatives is the establishment of a Local Business Support Fund focused on activities that are not directly connected to mining. The aim is to encourage local entrepreneurs, service providers, agricultural, tourism, craft, and other sustainable initiatives capable of creating additional value for the region.

The company also plans to support projects of public importance related to local infrastructure, hospital and healthcare services, education, vocational training, social activities, youth initiatives, sport, and culture.

For Tintyava Exploration AD, the development of the Rozino Project represents a long-term responsibility—to nature, local people, institutions, and the future of the region.

The company believes that the area’s natural resources can be explored, assessed, and potentially developed in a way that combines professionalism, transparency, economic value, and respect for people and the environment.

Материалът Rozino Project – A New Perspective for Ivaylovgrad, Built on Investment and Responsibility е публикуван за пръв път на Тинтява Експлорешън АД.

Scope and Organisation of the Consultations

The public consultations were conducted in full compliance with the requirements of the Environmental Protection Act and the Ordinance on the Terms and Procedures for Carrying Out Environmental Impact Assessments. All notification deadlines were observed, public access was provided to the EIA Report and its appendices, and interested parties were given the opportunity to submit written opinions.

On 27 April 2026, the meetings were held consecutively in the directly affected settlements—the villages of Rozino, Konnitsi, Gugutka, and Byal Gradets. On 28 April 2026, the consultation process continued in the town of Ivaylovgrad, in the hall of the Probuda 1914 Community Centre.

Each meeting was attended by representatives of the investor, the lead expert and members of the specialist team that prepared the EIA Report, representatives of the competent authorities, local residents, and representatives of non-governmental organisations. All questions raised—including those concerning water resources, air quality, mining waste management, land rehabilitation, and financial guarantees—were answered by the relevant experts present at the meetings.

Not a Single Local Resident Spoke Against the Project

The most significant fact emerging from the official minutes of the public consultations is the following: at none of the meetings—neither in the four affected villages on 27 April nor in the town of Ivaylovgrad on 28 April—was any statement opposing the implementation of the project made by a resident of the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad.

The statements made by local residents were either supportive of the investment proposal or took the form of specific questions regarding the project’s technical parameters, employment opportunities, water supply, and control measures. These questions were answered during the meetings themselves.

The objections to the project were raised by representatives of non-governmental organisations whose activities are not connected with permanent residence or everyday life in the affected area.

For Tintyava Exploration AD, this outcome is significant far beyond the procedural aspect. A public consultation is the point at which every resident of the affected area has a legally guaranteed right to express disagreement publicly, freely, and without consequences. The fact that no local resident exercised this right in order to oppose the project is the clearest possible indication of the level of trust that the local community has in the investor and in the way the company has conducted its dialogue with residents over recent years.

The “Future for Ivaylovgrad” Initiative Committee: Nearly 1,200 Signatures in Support

Support from the local community was not limited to the consultation halls. A local initiative committee, “Future for Ivaylovgrad”, was established in support of the project—a civic organisation created at the initiative of residents of the municipality themselves.

The initiative committee prepared and submitted a positive opinion in support of the investment proposal, backed by the signatures of nearly 1,200 residents of the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad.

The scale of this document should be assessed in the context of the municipality’s demographic profile. Nearly 1,200 signatures from residents of the Ivaylovgrad area represent an exceptionally high proportion of the active local population—a level of civic mobilisation in support of an industrial project that has no equivalent in the recent history of the region.

The conclusion is unequivocal: the people who live in the area and who will directly experience both the benefits and any potential impacts of the project support it.

The Investor’s Position: Dialogue, Not Confrontation

Tintyava Exploration AD regards critical opinions as a normal and legitimate part of the EIA procedure. The company has analysed every objection submitted and has provided reasoned responses addressing the substance of each concern.

However, the company notes that a significant proportion of the objections do not call for stricter conditions, additional monitoring, or specific technical adjustments, but instead demand an unconditional ban on the project—regardless of its compliance with Bulgarian and European legislation.

Experience in Bulgaria demonstrates that an alternative approach is possible. The operating Ada Tepe mine near Krumovgrad—developed in a similar geological and social environment in the Eastern Rhodopes—has shown that modern mining can coexist with a preserved natural environment and tangible local economic development when it is designed according to the best available techniques and subjected to continuous independent oversight.

Tintyava Exploration AD reaffirms its commitment to implementing the Rozino Project using the best available techniques, ensuring full transparency of monitoring data, and providing all legally required financial guarantees for land rehabilitation and post-closure monitoring.

The Importance of the Project for the Region

The Rozino Project is one of the most significant industrial investments planned in the Haskovo Region. It is expected to create permanent direct employment opportunities for local residents, generate revenue for the municipal budget through concession payments and taxes, and produce a multiplier effect for local businesses, services, and infrastructure.

The project is also aligned with the European Union’s strategic framework for critical and strategic raw materials, which identifies the development of domestic extraction capacity within Member States as one of the priorities for Europe’s economic and geopolitical resilience.

Conclusion

After decades of depopulation, limited private investment, and a steadily narrowing economic outlook, the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad is being presented with a genuine opportunity for development. The public consultations held on 27 and 28 April 2026, together with the nearly 1,200 signatures in support, demonstrated that the local community recognises this opportunity and wishes to make use of it.

Tintyava Exploration AD thanks all residents of the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad who took part in the consultations, asked questions, and expressed their views. The company will continue to work in close cooperation with the local community, the competent authorities, and the expert community—with a clear understanding that sustainable mining is built on trust, and that trust must be earned through actions.

During the public consultation on the Rozino Project in the village of Gugutka on 27 April 2026.

During the public consultation on the Rozino Project at the Probuda 1914 Community Centre in Ivaylovgrad on 28 April 2026.

During the public consultation on the Rozino Project in the village of Konnitsi on 27 April 2026.

During the public consultation on the Rozino Project in the village of Rozino on 27 April 2026.

Материалът The Public Consultations on the Rozino Project Took Place in an Atmosphere of Open Dialogue and Strong Interest from the Local Community е публикуван за пръв път на Тинтява Експлорешън АД.

These materials do not simply appear inside modern technologies. Before becoming part of electronics, cables, batteries, medical devices, or industrial equipment, mineral resources undergo a long journey—geological exploration, resource evaluation, mining, processing, quality control, transportation, manufacturing, and eventually recycling.

For this reason, today’s discussion about the mining industry cannot remain confined to outdated perceptions or one-sided narratives. It must instead focus on the modern economy, technological independence, European competitiveness, responsible management of natural resources, and regional development.

The Invisible Foundation of Everyday Life

Metals are everywhere around us, even when we do not notice them.

A single smartphone contains dozens of different metals that make it lightweight, compact, fast, and highly functional. According to the European Commission, a smartphone may contain up to 50 different types of metals that contribute to its size, weight, and performance.

In healthcare, metals are essential for manufacturing diagnostic equipment, surgical instruments, implants, electronic monitoring systems, laboratory equipment, and advanced medical technologies. In transportation, they are used in vehicles, railway infrastructure, electrical systems, batteries, sensors, and communication modules. In the energy sector, metals are indispensable for cables, transformers, power grids, renewable energy installations, energy storage systems, and electrification.

This means that modern society cannot function without reliable access to metals and mineral resources. The question is no longer whether society needs them, but how they can be explored, extracted, and managed responsibly.

Europe Places Raw Materials at the Heart of Its Industrial Strategy

In recent years, the European Union has increasingly recognized raw materials as a strategic priority within its industrial policy. The reason is straightforward: without raw materials there can be no energy transition, no digital transformation, no advanced manufacturing, no defence resilience, and no competitive economy.

The European Commission defines critical raw materials as those with both high economic importance and a high risk of supply disruption. These materials are essential for numerous strategic sectors, including renewable energy, digital technologies, aerospace, defence, automotive manufacturing, and electronics.

Through the European Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU has established concrete objectives for 2030: at least 10% of the EU’s annual consumption of strategic raw materials should be extracted within the Union, at least 40% should be processed within the EU, at least 25% should come from recycling, and dependence on any single third country for an individual strategic raw material should not exceed 65%.

This clearly demonstrates that Europe no longer views raw materials as a peripheral issue but as a cornerstone of its economic and technological security.

Bulgaria Has an Important Role to Play

Bulgaria has a long tradition in geology, mining, and metallurgy. The country possesses valuable expertise, experienced professionals, established traditions, and significant geological potential that deserves to be assessed using modern methods and transparent regulatory frameworks.

For Bulgaria, the issue of metallic mineral resources has several important dimensions.

First, it is an economic opportunity. The responsible development of metallic mineral projects can generate significant investment, employment, local procurement opportunities, public revenues, and sustainable regional economic growth.

Second, it is an industrial opportunity. If Europe intends to reduce its dependence on external suppliers, Member States must understand and responsibly manage their own geological potential. Bulgaria should not remain solely a consumer of technologies manufactured elsewhere using resources extracted elsewhere. Instead, it can become an active participant in Europe’s raw materials and industrial value chain through exploration, mining, processing, engineering expertise, and a highly skilled workforce.

Third, it is a regional development issue. In many parts of Bulgaria, new investments in the real economy can create jobs, encourage people to remain in their local communities, and support local businesses. This is particularly important for municipalities with limited economic opportunities, where a responsibly developed project can deliver lasting benefits.

Metals and the Energy Transition

Public discussions frequently focus on renewable energy, electric vehicles, batteries, solar technologies, and digital innovation. Less frequently acknowledged is the fact that every one of these technologies depends on physical materials.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasizes that minerals are fundamental components of rapidly expanding clean energy technologies—from wind turbines and electricity networks to electric vehicles. According to the IEA, demand for these minerals will continue to grow significantly as the global energy transition accelerates.

As society pursues greater electrification, cleaner technologies, and modern infrastructure, reliable, transparent, and sustainable supply chains for raw materials become increasingly important.

Recycling is an essential part of the solution, but it cannot by itself replace the need for primary raw materials, particularly while demand continues to grow and a substantial share of materials remains locked within products, infrastructure, and equipment that have long service lives. A truly sustainable approach therefore requires a balanced combination of exploration, mining, processing, reuse, recycling, and responsible waste management.

Why Responsible Mining Is Part of the Solution

Modern mining cannot operate without high environmental, technical, and social standards. Society has every right to expect transparency, effective oversight, public access to information, protection of water resources, responsible waste management, land rehabilitation, and tangible benefits for local communities.

This is precisely what distinguishes outdated perceptions of mining from the modern European approach to natural resource development.

Responsible mining does not mean unconditional approval of every project. It means clear regulatory procedures, expert assessments, public participation, institutional oversight, implementation of best practices, and a commitment to evaluating projects throughout their entire life cycle—from exploration to final site rehabilitation.

In this context, Europe’s raw material independence cannot be achieved through political declarations alone. It requires real projects, real investment, advanced technologies, and meaningful dialogue with society.

The Context of Tintyava Exploration AD

Tintyava Exploration AD is a geological exploration company focused on identifying and developing deposits of metallic mineral resources and critical elements. The company combines international and Bulgarian professional expertise, technical excellence, and a responsible approach to the development of mineral resource projects in Bulgaria.

The company’s flagship initiative is the Rozino Project—an investment proposal for the extraction and processing of polymetallic gold-silver ores from the Rozino deposit within the Tintyava exploration area, located in the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad.

The project should be viewed within the broader context of Bulgaria’s and Europe’s need to better understand and responsibly develop their geological potential. Gold and silver are part of a wider group of metallic raw materials that play an essential role in industry, electronics, advanced technologies, and the modern economy.

Conclusion

Metals are the invisible foundation of modern life. They are embedded in our technologies, infrastructure, healthcare, energy systems, transportation, and industry. Without them, there can be no digital economy, no energy transition, and no competitive industrial future.

For Bulgaria, this represents an opportunity to develop its geological potential responsibly, transparently, and sustainably. For local communities, it offers prospects for investment, employment, education, and long-term regional development. For Europe, it is an essential step toward greater industrial resilience and strategic autonomy.

For Tintyava Exploration AD, the Rozino Project forms part of this broader conversation—a conversation about natural resources, modern technologies, responsible development, and the future of the Municipality of Ivaylovgrad.

Материалът From Smartphones to Energy Security: Why Metals Matter е публикуван за пръв път на Тинтява Експлорешън АД.