At its last meeting for 2017, the Bulgarian government gave the green light to a second cable car in Mount Pirin near the skiing resort of Bansko. 

Minister of Environment Neno Dimov defined the decision as a good signal for the development of skiing in the region and across Bulgaria and vowed that provided there was investor interest a procedure would be started for a public discussion and the project would pass through all ecological procedures.

According to the government, the project’s implementation will contribute to the economic development of Southeastern Bulgaria.

The decision was made amid protests against and in support of the project. In Sofia environmentalists said the intentions for a new cable car were destructive for nature. As a retaliation measure to the ecological protests, residents of Bansko who strongly support the second cable car blocked the E-79 highway near the town of Simitli.