Investment Plan supports more environmentally-friendly production of lead and zinc in Bulgaria

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has provided a €65 million loan to KCM AD, a Bulgarian producer of lead and zinc, to raise its production output by 25%. At the same time, the company will increase its use of recycled materials significantly, resulting in a more efficient and sustainable production process. KCM’s zinc is used in galvanised steel products, the production of die-cast alloys and of brass and bronze products, while its lead is primarily directed towards the automotive and industrial battery sectors. The company employs more than 1,500 people. The EIB financing is guaranteed by the Investment Plan’s European Fund for Strategic Investments.European Commissioner for the Economy, Paolo Gentiloni, said: “Making our traditional industries more eco-friendly and modern is key to boosting energy efficiency. With €65 million in EIB financing under the Investment Plan for Europe, KCM can upgrade and update its manufacturing processes. This investment will help to support more than 1,500 jobs in the region.” The press release is available here. As of November 2019, the Investment Plan had mobilised €450.6 billion of investment across the EU, and supported more than one million start-ups and small and medium businesses.