Environmental Assistance to Eastern Europe 2001
Environmental Projects in Bulgaria
In 2001, the co-operation with Bulgaria was intensified with the start of many new project initiatives and the preparation of a new country programme. It is a three-year programme replacing the previous country programme.
In the country programme emphasis is on the support for EU approximation and on the achievement of major environmental benefits. Focus is on two major sectors, water and waste. Furthermore, focus will be on the supervision of pollution from the industry and the energy sector. For the first time focus is also on the protection of nature and biodiversity in Bulgaria. The Black Sea region together with the Sofia region have been chosen as the two regional areas to be most focused on.
In 2001, support was granted for 14 projects with a total Danish grant of DKK 43.2 million. Compared to 2000 the total grant has more than doubled.
Within the water sector four projects were supported in 2001, covering more than 25% of the total Danish grant. The other highly prioritised sector - waste, which covers both household waste, hazardous waste and ship generated oil-containing waste was supported with up to 33%.
One of the decisive mattes in relation to the improvement of waste management in Bulgaria, and to bring this in accordance with the EU environmental requirements, is the lack of regional planning and final treatment of waste. Therefore, DEPA has supported a considerable preparation project of six regional refuse dumps for EU's ISPA fund, from which DKK 60 million are reserved for Bulgaria. The continuation of a regional project in the towns of Wratza and Mezdra have also been brought into focus. Moreover, the capacity building for hazardous waste has been initiated, where more than DKK 50 million are expected to be appropriated for a combustion plant supported by ISPA. Finally, improvements have been made in the reception and treatment of oilcontaining waste water and waste from the harbour of Varna.
In the water sector preparations have been made for the EU framework directive on water. Furthermore, several investment studies for upgrading of EU requirements on waste water treatment plants have been initiated in the Black Sea region, where most of the waste water is still being discharged untreated into the sea. The concrete projects in the air sector have resulted in EU approximation of the IPPC directive - a follow-up on previous projects, where five major companies should obtain approvals. Furthermore, a training project has been established for the new Bulgarian Ministry of Energy, with energy conservation as the principal subject.
In the nature sector the preparation for the first green project was started. This assistance is aimed on the implementation of the EU birds and habitat directives in Bulgaria and a designation of important habitats, the so-called NATURA 2000 network. The implementation is expected to commence in 2002.
In addition to this DKK 12 million were given to the socalled 'Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund'. The fund is administered by EBRD and the means from the fund will be used for projects helping Bulgaria to ensure a safe decommissioning of the nuclear power station.
| Project title | Waste Water Project in Troyan, Bulgaria, supplementary
grant |
| File no. | 124/008-0033T |
| Project recipient | The water supply company of Troyan |
| Project manager | Envidan |
| Project description | The purpose of the project ‘Troyan WWTP, Phase I’
is to install mechanical treatment. An extension of the project with further technical
assistance from Envidan has been requested. This is due to new information from the
municipality of Troyan and Vodokanal Engineering about an altered scenario for the plant.
Therefore, part of the feasibility report, budget headings and drawings must be changed. The
municipality of Troyan and The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) are very
keen on the altered scenario being examined by the Danish Environmental Support Programme.
This is due to the fact that the largest industry in the area, Lesoplast, is now able to
treat large quantities of waste water discharge, so that BOD is reduced from 3,500 to 500
kg/day. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
No in this phase. |
| Grant | DKK 215,000 |
| Total costs | DKK 215,000 |
| Project title | Obzor - Byala Waste Water Treatment Plant - Phase II
(Equipment) |
| File no. | 124/008-0043t |
| Project recipient | The municipalities of Obzor and Byala |
| Project manager | Envidan |
| Project description | The project consists of the investment for an almost
completed waste water treatment plant for the municipalities of Obzor and Byala. The
Bulgarian MoEW has defined the area as a ‘hot spot’ by the Black Sea, and the
project has been proposed by the Bulgarian MoEW. Presently all waste water from two towns
of more than 10,000 inhabitants is being discharged directly into the Black Sea. The
feasibility study has been approved and this phase consists of the investment in
mechanical treatment equipment and electric equipment. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
Reduction of: BOD5: 375 tonnes/year to 26 tonnes/year
Dissolved particles (SS): 452 tonnes/year to 88 tonnes/year, NH4-N: 56 tonnes/year to 3.5
tonnes/year, PO4-P 31 tonnes/year to 3.5 tonnes/year. |
| Grant | DKK 6,600,000 |
| Total costs | DKK 6,600,000 |
| Project title | Public Relation Training Programme ‘Energy and
Environment’, Bulgaria |
| File no. | 124/008-0049 |
| Project recipient | The two Bulgarian energy councils, State Agency for Energy
and Energy Resources and State Agency of Energy Efficiency. |
| Project manager | Sten Stenstrup |
| Project description | Several Danish and European projects have been carried out in
the Bulgarian district heating sector. This project will form the background of a two
weeks course on energy conservation. Participation from the industry, the ministry, an
opinion-forming consumer and the press ensures a very large spreading of all these project
results. Furthermore a three weeks course will be implemented with a substantial amount of
participants from the first course, where the participants will be inspired to choose the
means they find most suitable for a campaign in their own region. This campaign, together
with a gauging programme will be completed during the course. Subsequently, the
participants implement the campaign in their own regions and after four to five months
they measure the effect. Based on these results a project booklet is produced and a
concluding conference is held. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
The energy consumption is to be gauged in a given region before and after the implemented campaign. |
| Grant | DKK 1,651,016 |
| Total costs | DKK 2,040,352 |
| Project title | Capacity Building in Hazardous Waste Management in
Bulgaria |
| File no. | 124/008-0053 |
| Project recipient | The Bulgarian MoEW and the regional environmental
inspectorates |
| Project manager | Chemcontrol a/s |
| Project description | The capacity building project comprises the development of an
organisational and financial structure for the construction of treatment plants for
hazardous waste, an overall plan for the collection, storage and transportation of
hazardous waste, and the development of a computer system for registration of hazardous
waste. In July 2001, the Bulgarian MoEW filed an application with ISPA for the financing
of a national centre for hazardous waste. This project anticipates the collection of waste
directly at the largest industries and waste producers. The MoEW is very interested in
establishing an effective collection system comprising receiving stations and reception
sites (to also ensure a high degree of collection from smaller industries and households.
In order to establish this system, it is necessary to carry out a logistic analysis of the
waste deliveries, design the receiving stations and work out tender documents for the
receiving stations. A suggestion for the design of the receiving stations and reception
sites will be prepared together with tender documents, so that tenders for the plants can
be invited. Furthermore, a database will be established to register hazardous substances. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
Cannot be calculated at this stage. |
| Grant | DKK 3,810,139 |
| Total costs | DKK 3,810,139 |
| Project title |
Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund, EBRD |
| File no. |
124/008-0055 |
| Project recipient |
Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund |
| Project manager |
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) |
| Project description | The Bulgarian government has undertaken to decommission the
four oldest reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power station, so that reactors 1 and 2 are
decommissioned in 2003, while reactors 3 and 4 are decommissioned in 2006. These reactors
are of type VVER 440/230, identified by the G7 meeting in Munich in 1992 as the most
hazardous types of reactor and the ones that the decommissioning efforts should be
concentrated on, since an upgrading to western standard is considered not feasible. In
preparation for supporting the decommissioning in an environmentally safe manner, the EBRD
has established the Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund to implement a
number of projects relating to the decommissioning. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
Environmentally safe decommissioning of the four oldest reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power station. |
| Grant |
DKK 12,000,000 |
| Total costs | Approx. DKK 500 million. |
| Project title |
Project Formulation, EMERALD/Natura 2000 Network of
Protected Areas of Bulgaria |
| File no. |
124/008-0056 |
| Project recipient |
The Bulgarian Ministry of the Environment |
| Project manager |
DARUDEC |
| Project description | A team from DARUDEC is to formulate a project strengthening
the protection of biodiversity and nature in Bulgaria and to be instrumental in Bulgaria
fulfilling its obligations in relation to the Bern Convention by establishing an EMERALD
network. Furthermore, the project is to support Bulgaria in its approximation to EU by
preparing the country’s participation in the Natura 2000 network. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
The project will be instrumental to an increased protection
of the biodiversity, to the fulfilment of the obligations of the Bern Convention and the
approximation to EU. |
| Grant |
DKK 476,424 |
| Total costs | DKK 476,424 |
| Project title |
Project Formulation Mission on Management of Ship
Generated Waste in Varna. |
| File no. |
124/008-0057 |
| Project recipient |
Varna harbour |
| Project manager |
Carl Bro as |
| Project description | The project concerns the formulation of a project document on
'Management of ship generated waste in the harbour of Varna, Bulgaria'. The project is
expected to include a technical assistance component to institutional development,
management, training and an equipment component, which will subsequently be tendered. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
No in this phase |
| Grant |
DKK 261,117 |
| Total costs | DKK 261,117 |
| Project title |
Rehabilitation of Varna Waste Water Treatment Plant in
Bulgaria - Stage II |
| File no. |
124/008-0059 |
| Project recipient |
Varna waste water plant |
| Project manager |
Rambøll as |
| Project description | The purpose of this project is to install modern mechanical
filters, to provide the plant with laboratory and monitoring equipment and to estimate the
future load. Furthermore, stage II, which comprises the total rehabilitation of the
biological aeration step is to be appraised. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
150-350 m3 percolate/year |
| Grant |
DKK 5,044,710 |
| Total costs | DKK 7,944,710 |
| Project title |
Improvement of Solid Waste Management in Vratza and Mezdra
- Stage II |
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| File no. |
124/008-0062 | ||||||||||||||||
| Project recipient |
The municipalities of Vratza and Mezdra | ||||||||||||||||
| Project manager |
COWI as | ||||||||||||||||
| Project description | A new regional refuse dump has been established as the result
of a previously supported project. As part of this project, a new cooperation was
established for a joint running of the refuse dump. In order to ensure a sustainable and
environmentally safe continuous running of the refuse dump - and hereby the investment
made - and to ensure a coherence between the waste management in the two municipalities of
Vratza and Mezdra and the running of the refuse dump, it has been proposed to continue the
project with a number of activities with the following objectives:
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| Environmental effect (expected) |
Will be calculated in detail in the inception stage. | ||||||||||||||||
| Grant |
DKK 6,050,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| Total costs | DKK 10,610,000 |
| Project title |
Six Regional Waste Disposal Sites in Bulgaria, ISPA
Project Preparation |
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| File no. |
124/008-0063 | ||||||
| Project recipient |
The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water | ||||||
| Project manager |
COWI as | ||||||
| Project description | The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) in Bulgaria has
asked for support for the improvement of existing insufficient tender documents for six
regional waste disposal sites and a reloading station. EU has undertaken to grant ISPA support of EUR 60 million, and the construction work must be finalised by the end of 2003. The Danish assistance to MoEW includes:
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| Environmental effect (expected) |
The closing down of 113 old uncontrolled waste disposal sites
and the storage of 430,000 m3 waste/year in compliance with the EU
requirements. |
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| Grant |
DKK 3,275,317 | ||||||
| Total costs | DKK 3,840,317 |
| Project title |
Assistance on the Implementation of the IPPC Directive in
Bulgaria |
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| File no. |
124/008-0064 | ||||||
| Project recipient |
The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water | ||||||
| Project manager |
Carl Bro as | ||||||
| Project description | The project is an extension of the present project '5 IPPC
permits' under the Environmental Support Programme. A project assisting the Bulgarian MoEW
with the drawing up of five integrated environmental approvals. The purpose of the
extension is to upgrade the skills and the ability of the ministry to implement the IPPC
in the beginning of 2003. The ministry has asked DEPA for assistance in three areas:
The project is in accordance with the country programme and the strategy of the Danish Environmental Support Programme. In the short run the project will contribute to a successful implementation of the IPPC Directive, which is requisite to the Bulgarian admission to EU. In the long run the
implementation of the directive will contribute to a better environmental performance at
the large industries in Bulgaria and thus a better environment. |
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| Environmental effect (expected) |
Cannot be calculated in this phase. | ||||||
| Grant |
DKK 2,870,467 | ||||||
| Total costs | DKK 3,081,667 |
| Project title |
Review of Terms of Reference: Transposition of the EU
Water Framework Directive in Bulgaria |
| File no. |
124/008-0065 |
| Project recipient |
The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water |
| Project manager |
NIRAS |
| Project description | Draft terms of reference have been prepared by the Bulgarian
MoEW. On the basis of these, a project document must be prepared and subsequently
tendered. The project is expected to be aimed at the first phases of the implementation of
the Water Framework Directive. It includes the transpositioning of the Water Framework
Directive to national Bulgarian laws and the elaboration of a national strategy for the
management of water resources. Furthermore, a pilot project for the Black Sea region must
be formulated. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
No in this phase. |
| Grant |
DKK 399,837 |
| Total costs | DKK 399,837 |
| Project title |
Conservation of Species and Habitats in Bulgaria, tender |
| File no. |
129-0261 og 129-0261 A |
| Project recipient |
The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Water |
| Project manager |
Water & Power Planners |
| Project description | The project consist of the appraisal of a project document
plus subsequent tender. The project document is the first green environmental project
formulated by the Environmental Support Programme in Bulgaria. The project includes the
establishment of a network for protected areas in compliance with Emerald and Natura 2000.
|
| Environmental effect (expected) |
No in the present phase. |
| Grant |
DKK 217,448 |
| Total costs | DKK 217,448 |
| Project title |
Appraisal and Tender of Management of Ship Generated Waste
in the Port of Varna, Bulgaria |
| File no. |
129-0282 |
| Project recipient |
The port of Varna |
| Project manager |
Water and Power Planners A/S |
| Project description | The project comprises the preparation of desk appraisal and
tender regarding the draft project document 'Management of ship generated waste in the
port of Varna, Bulgaria'. The tender project will include the elaboration of port waste
management plans and the subsequent investment. |
| Environmental effect (expected) |
No in this phase. |
| Grant |
DKK 340,090 |
| Total costs | DKK 340,090 |