All negotiations ultimately failed. Fuel and salaries were not being paid during that period, creating additional debts for the company. Since December 2008 the factory was virtually non-functioning, kept in a safe-standby mode. On May 15, 2009, gas supply (main fuel for the factory's operations) has been cut off, the coke production plant - one of the most controversial symbols of the company - has been shut down permanently. In 2011 the factory is sold to an SPV financed by First Investment Bank. Since then the terrain was partially cleared and opportunities for redevelopment are being sought. External links https://web.archive.org/web/20090519215324/http://kremikovci.bg/ Website of Kremikovci Neighbourhood 1st monitoring report on steel restructuring in Bulgaria and Romania (2006) of the European Commission 2nd monitoring report on steel restructuring in Bulgaria and Romania (2007) of the European Commission 3rd monitoring report on steel restructuring in Bulgaria (2008) of the European Commission Steel companies of Bulgaria Defunct manufacturing companies of Bulgaria Manufacturing companies based in Sofia Bulgaria–Soviet Union relations Soviet foreign aid