Achieving Sustainability in the Management of Natural Resources Given to a Concession

The sustainable management of resources is part of the strategic objectives of the European economic policy for the transition from a linear to a circular economy. One of its aspects, at the national level, is the protection of deposits of underground wealth and mineral waters on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria from depletion and improper exploitation. The purpose of the article is to present the main requirements for the users of this type of natural resources when granting concessions by the state, in order to determine whether there are mechanisms for achieving sustainability in their management. By studying the current legislation and analyzing data from the National Concession Register, the most frequently used practices for sustainable management of these valuable resources used for economic purposes are presented: establishment of environmental requirements; limiting the rights to extract and exploit the deposits to predetermined limits and volumes, for a certain period of time; requirements for preparation of work plans, reports and reporting documentation; delivery of the concession object in a condition suitable for subsequent operation; requirements for reclamation, enhanced administrative control, which covers the entire project cycle of realization of investments in the extraction of this type of resources, etc. As a result of the study, the article formulates recommendations for expanding the sustainability requirements and strengthening the control in their application. This will ensure a wider time horizon for their economic exploitation and will contribute to achieving one of the EU’s fundamental goals: to ensure suitable conditions for economic growth for future generations without resource dependence.