Бизнес

The Ministry of Energy and Energy Resources held on June 10 at the Velina Hotel a final meeting on a project for the use of geothermal resources. The aim of the project was to identify the main obstacles to the use of geothermal waters in Bulgaria and to make preliminary studies for the construction of geothermal heating systems in several municipalities, including Velingrad.
The main barriers to the rational use of geothermal waters were pointed out by Mr. Jrgen Jordan, director of the project from Denmark. Bulgaria is rich in geothermal resources, but most of the 700 studied springs are used for swimming pools, baths and balneology, and only a limited amount for heating buildings. The obstacles are numerous: legal, institutional, financial, market, technical, environmental, social. Mr. Jordan pointed out that when using mineral waters for energy purposes, the quality of the water is not affected by the proper construction of heating systems. But there are extremely many users who do not pay any fees and their suspension will cost many problems.
It was reported that the methodology for setting a concession fee is inapplicable: practically no one wants leads for geothermal purposes because it has to go through a concession. Instead, water permits are taken out and work is being done on the edge of the law. But the World Bank's prescriptions are explicit: from now on, any use of geothermal waters must be in accordance with the law.
Within the project, preliminary studies have been carried out for the construction of geothermal heating systems in Velingrad, Sapareva Banya, Banya, Pavel Banya, Zlatograd, Kyustendil, Sandanski, Momin Prohod, Pleven, Kazanlak. The project for Velingrad provides for the construction of a 2-megawatt geothermal heating plant on a source basis - 4 ("Vlasa") in Kamenitsa. A local heating network is planned with a distance to the energy consumers below 1000 meters. A project for a 2-megawatt plant in the center of Draginovo was also developed based on drilling - 5; construction of a new 2000-meter water supply and local heating system with a distance from the center to the consumers 300 meters. The work of the seminar was attended by the mayor of the municipality Atanas Vodev and the mayor of Draginovo M. Alendarov. They were also introduced to the new opportunities for financing geothermal projects presented by MEER.
Elena Baeva