Bulgaria's Maritza Iztok mines near Stara Zagora reported a record high yield of lignite coal for the first three months of 2008.

The mine complex in southeastern Bulgaria produced a total of 5,453 M tons of coal until March 16, which is about 7 percent above the plans, the management of the mine reported.

The state-owned company also reports record high yield for 2007 as 23,928 M tons of coal were produced, exceeding the plan by 2,578 M tons.

In 2008, the mine, which provides the coal for Bulgaria's major thermal power plant complex Maritza Iztok, plans to produce 23,1 M tons of lignite coal