Economic Yearbook of the Stara Zagora Region, 2010

Net Sales Revenues – BGN 1,102 mln.
Profit – BGN 99 mln.

Within the territory of the Stara Zagora Region is the Maritsa East Power Complex. It comprises the three lignite coal mines and four thermal power plants (the newest one to be put into operation in 2010), as well as the companies engaged in repair and maintenance works. The complex uses local power resources only and is a strong guarantee of Bulgaria’s energy independence with a share of the total production of electrical power in the country of more than 32%.
The sector Production and Distribution of Electricity, Heat and Gaseous Fuels holds a 21% share of the Stara Zagora District economy. The NSR amount to BGN 1,102 mln. most of which is generated by 7 companies. These companies, along with Mini Maritsa East EAD, provide employment to over 10,000 workers and tens of other local companies are directly related to their activity.
TPP Maritsa East 2 EAD is the largest thermal power plant in Bulgaria. The company is 100% state-owned by the Bulgarian Energy Holding. At the end of 2009, 2520 people were employed at the power plant. TPP Maritsa East 2 produces electric power through burning local lignite coal extracted from the mines within the complex. The TPP has a total installed capacity of 1,556 MW and consists of eight generating units. The TPP provides 18% of Bulgaria’s electrical energy output. During the gas crisis at the beginning of 2009, its share reached 25%. A maximum load of 1,482 MW was also registered in late July 2009. This was a year of record achievements for the whole history of the plant with over 8.1 mln. MWh total energy production.
The TPP uses low calorific fuel which results in the release of ashes, sulphur dioxides, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide in the process of burning. This makes the TPP one of the biggest environmental polluters in Bulgaria. Measures to mitigate this negative effect include installation of sulphur purifying facilities aimed at reducing the harmful SO2 emissions in the flue gases. As of the end of 2009, flue gas desulphurisation plants (FGD) are installed at six power units and two more (for Units 5 and 6) are currently under construction. The project is worth more than EUR 80 mln. By July 2010, the refurbishment of Unit 6 should be completed and the new FGD installation for this unit should also start working. The FDG plant of unit 5 is scheduled to be put into operation in September 2011.
A gypsum dewatering system will be built for Units 1 to 6, to be put into operation by mid-2010. The cost of this project is EUR 22 mln., of which 14.3 mln will be provided by the international Kozloduy Fund.
In 2009, two new chimneys (135 m height) were constructed for Units 7 and 8. At the end of the year, refurbishment of Units 5 to 8 started with the aim of increasing their capacity from 215 MW to 230 MW. The refurbishment works are implemented by the Japanese company Toshiba along with the Bulgarian companies Risk Engineering and Energoremont – Galabovo.
For the first 8 months of 2009, the profit of TPP Maritsa East 2 AD before taxation totalled BGN 81 mln., as compared to BGN 28 mln., for the same period of the previous year. At the end of October 2009, the gross profit of the company exceeded BGN 94 mln.
During the past 3 years, the Italian energy company Enel invested EUR 700 mln. in the refurbishment of the generating units of TPP Enel Maritza East 3, located near the town of Galabovo. The project was completed in early 2009. With its full capacity of 908 MW the TTP could satisfy up to 12% of Bulgaria’s electrical power needs. In 2008, TPP Enel Maritza East 3 produced 3.7 mln. MWh of electrical energy, which is a 7% growth as compared to the previous year. As of the end of 2009, 575 people are employed in the TPP, but their number will be reduced to 460 in 2010 as agreed with the company’s trade union organizations.  
TPP Enel Maritsa East 3 finished 2008 with a total NSR of BGN 315 mln. and a net profit of BGN 20 mln. The Italian energy company Enel is the majority share-holder of TPP Enel Maritsa East 3 and 23% of the shares are owned by the Bulgarian National Electric Company NEK EAD (Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania).
All 4 power generating units of the TPP are equipped with flue gas desulphurisation plants (FGD). During the past three years, the company invested EUR 160 mln. in environment protection programmes. At the end of 2009, Enel Maritsa East 3 AD was awarded the ISO 14001:2004 standard certificate for having implemented environmental management system which guarantees that the TPP operates in compliance with the best world practices in the area of environmental management.
Enel Group ranks second in Europe in terms of installed power units. Through Enel Green Power Bulgaria, the company has also acquired a Wind Power Park with a total installed capacity of 21 MW, situated near the town of Kavarna.
The fourth thermal power plant in the region is AES Galabovo, due to start operation in mid 2010. The investment is made by one of the world largest energy suppliers, i.e. the US company AES Corporation. This is the largest foreign investment ever made in Bulgaria, amounting to a total of EUR 1.3 bln. AES Corporation is engaged in projects related to generation and distribution of electrical energy produced using traditional and alternative fuel sources. The company operates 123 power generation plants throughout the world, producing a total of 43 GW of electrical energy and provides employment for over 25,000 people. In Bulgaria, AES Corporation is currently working on a project for the construction of a wind power generation park with 156 MW capacity within the North Black Sea region (an investment worth EUR 300 mln.).
TPP AES Galabavo consists of two power generation units with a total installed capacity of 670 MW when completed. The construction works are implemented by the French company Alstom (Alstom Power) and the main sub-contractor is TGO – Bulgaria (a company established with capital from Turkey). When completed, it is expected to be the most efficient and cleanest fossil fuel power plant in Bulgaria, meeting World Bank and EU environmental standards.
The TPP employs a clean technology providing maximum protection from environmental pollution with harmful gases and dust. It has an operating air quality management system, which monitors the process of flue gas desulphurisation, i.e. removal of sulphur dioxide from the exhaust flue gases. The system provides a 48-hour forecast for the air quality in Galabovo and gives an opportunity for early warning in case of possible pollution problems. The technological process involves storage of all powdery materials and wastes (limestone, lime, sodium carbonate, ash and gypsum) in silos equipped with dedusting systems and their recycling. The TPP has an approved waste management program, which guarantees environmentally safe waste disposal.
EVN Bulgaria Elektrosnabdiavane AD (EVN Bulgaria EC AD) supplies electrical energy to South Eastern 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. In 2009, the company implemented investment and repair programs (covering the territory of several districts) amounting to a total of BGN 132 mln. and 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 company’s 2010 investment program amounts to BGN 146 mln., of which BGN 46 mln. will be allocated for improving voltage stability and power supply quality, and BGN 34 mln. will be invested in activities aimed at attracting new customers.
Stara Zagora has the third longest gas distribution network (126 km) in Bulgaria, after Sofia (500 km) and Varna (127 km.). Gas distribution services are provided by Burgasgas EAD, a subsidiary of Overgas Inc. AD. At the beginning of 2010, the company has 2,800 domestic users and approximately 350 corporate users, i.e. companies and public buildings. The company is currently extending its network with 5 more km. in the Western part of town. The major consumers of natural gas in Stara Zagora are Zagorka brewery with over 6 mln. m3 annual consumption and the enterprises in the industrial Southern zone of the city.