Gross Output - BGN 928 mln.
Net Sales Revenues - BGN 1 448 mln.
Profit - BGN 76 mln.
The sector Production and Distribution of Electricity, Heat and Gaseous Fuels holds a 21% share of the Stara Zagora District economy (BGN 1,448 mln. net sales revenues). Despite the fact that there are only 17 companies active in this sector, they determine the image of the regional economy. These companies provide direct employment to thousands of workers and several hundred local companies are indirectly related to their activity. The sector ranks third in terms of profit after the Manufacturing Industry and the Trade Industry.
EVN Bulgaria Elektrosnabdiavane AD (EVN Bulgaria EC AD) supplies electrical energy to South East Bulgaria. The company has 1.6 mln. end-users. 67% of the company shares belong to the Austrian energy and infrastructure company EVN, and the rest are Bulgarian state property. The company is a regional leader in terms of net sales revenues, reaching BGN 512 mln. for 2007, which is 41% growth compared to the previous year. Although EVN Bulgaria reduced its profit more than three times (down to BGN 6.1 mln.), it nevertheless stayed among the top 12 companies in this ranking.
In 2008, EVN Bulgaria EC AD invested BGN 140 mln. mostly in improving the quality of electricity supply and in strengthening the distribution network. The company’s 2009 investment and repair programs (covering the territory of several districts) amount to a total of BGN 132 mln. and are aimed predominantly at improving the distribution system. The company maintains 732 km. of medium and low voltage cable lines, 1,986 km. of overhead power lines as well as several hundred transformers. The transfer of ownership of the electrometers is expected to be completed in 2009. BGN 32 mln. will be invested in activities aimed at attracting new customers, and another BGN 12 mln. in minimising technological losses.
Within the territory of the Stara Zagora Region is the Maritsa East Power Complex, comprising the three lignite coal mines, the production facilities of the existing thermal power plants (TPP) and of the ones that are currently under construction, as well as the companies dealing with repair and maintenance works. The complex uses local power resources only and is a strong guarantee of Bulgaria’s energy independence with a 30% share of the total production of electrical power in the country.
The biggest thermal power plant on the Balkan Peninsula, Maritsa East 2, operates with 8 power units with a total capacity of 1,556 MW. The TPP provides 17% of Bulgaria’s electrical energy output.
In 2009, Maritsa East 2 TPP will set up (purchase and install the equipment for) a sulfur purifying installations (SPI) for Units 5 and 6. The project is worth BGN 171 mln. and will be implemented by an Italian-Chinese consortium Inderco-Insigma with funding provided by the ISPA Programme (EUR 34 mln.), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EUR 36.2 mln. credit) and by TTP’s own resources. The sulfur purifying installations (SPIs) should be put into operation in 2011. The construction works ensure employment for 150 people. The EU funding was approved in 2004, but the construction works were delayed because of some technical procedures. Implementation of the project will contribute to reducing the pollution in South East Bulgaria.
The sulfur purifying installations of Units 7 and 8 have been operating since 2001, and the purifying facilities for Units 1 and 2 were put into operation in the autumn of 2008. The latter installation was constructed by Enemona – Galabovo AD, as sub-contractor to the Japanese company Mitsui & Co., and the investment was worth BGN 9 mln. The absorber for Units 3 and 4 is planned to be put into operation in the spring of 2009.
Along with the measures for reducing the air pollution by sulfur dioxide, repair of Units 3 and 4 of the TPP, with a total capacity of 354 MW, was completed in 2008. The modernisation, implemented by the Japanese company Mitsui (through Mitsui Energy Projects EOOD), was part of the program for refurbishment of the first four units of the TPP. The total cost of the refurbishment project is EUR 226 mln. and will extend their service life by 20 years.
During the past 3 years, the Italian energy company Enel invested considerable resources in the refurbishment of the power plants managed by the company. The refurbishment of TPP Enel Maritza East 3 (worth EUR 700 mln.) will be completed in 2009 with the repair of Unit 4. With its full capacity of 900 MW the TTP could provide up to 12% of Bulgaria’s electrical power needs in 2009. TPP Enel Maritza East 3 produced 3.47 TWh of electrical energy in 2007.
In the spring of 2008, TPP Enel Maritsa East 3 started the second sulfur purifying installation, thus trapping all exhaust gases for purification. EUR 160 mln. were invested in the environmental protection program.
The US company AES, which is one of the biggest energy suppliers worldwide, has started construction of a new thermal power plant in the Galabovo municipality. EUR 1.2 bln. will be invested in AES Maritsa East 1 TPP (670 MW). The contract was awarded to the French company Alstom Power and TGO Bulgaria is the major sub-contractor. The thermal power plant is scheduled to be put into operation at the end of 2009. It will consume 9 mln. tons of coal per year.
Stara Zagora has the second longest gas distribution network (125 km) in Bulgaria, after Sofia (470 km). Gas distribution services are provided by Burgasgas EAD, a subsidiary of Overgas Inc. AD. In November 2008, Burgasgas EAD acquired the assets of Gazosnabdyavane Stara Zagora AD, Gazosnabdyavane Nova Zagora AD and Yambolgas. At the beginning of 2009, the company has 2,300 domestic users and approximately 340 corporate users, i.e. companies and public buildings. The greatest consumer of natural gas in Stara Zagora is Zagorka brewery with over 6 mln. m3 annual consumption. In 2008, Burgasgas EAD sold 31 mln. m3 of the natural gas (ecological fuel), which is 3 mln. more compared to the previous year.
In an attempt to solve the ecological problems in the region two factories for the production of plasterboard and other dry building materials are being constructed to process the technological waste from the activities of TPP Maritsa East 2 and TPP Enel Maritsa East 3. The factories of Technogips EAD and Knauf Bulgaria EOOD will employ environment friendly technologies.
Leading companies in the sector
| Company | Economical activity by NACE | Position in NSR in sector | Position in Profit in sector |
| EVN Bulgaria - Elektrosnabdyavane AD | 35.13 | 1 | 4 |
| TPP Maritsa East 2 EAD | 35.11 | 2 | 3 |
| Enel Maritsa East 3 AD | 35.11 | 3 | 1 |
| Brikel EAD | 35.11 | 4 | 2 |
| Enel Operations Bulgaria AD | 35.11 | 5 | 5 |
| Gazosnabdyavane - Stara Zagora OOD | 35.23 | 6 | 7 |
| AES Maritsa East 1 - Services EOOD | 35.11 | 7 | 6 |
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