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NEK received Act 16 for hydro unit 2 of Chaira PSHPP

19 May 2025

The plant is available and successfully participates in the country's electric power system

On 16 May hydropower unit 2 of Chaira PSHPP successfully passed the State Acceptance Committee and received Act 16. The Commission certified that the rehabilitation was carried out in full accordance with the detailed design and in strict compliance with all requirements of the Bulgarian legislation. With this document, NEK will receive permission to use the hydro unit and complete the final stage of the successful restoration of the facility.

Thanks to the consistent efforts of the teams of National Electricity Company and the implemented innovative engineering solution, the largest ‘battery’ in the Balkans has been available for the needs of the power system for almost 6 months and will continue to actively participate in covering the country's peak loads.

In parallel, NEK continues to work intensively to bring the remaining hydro units back into operation. We recall that at the beginning of 2025 the company signed two contracts for repair and rehabilitation of hydro units 1 and 3. Repair and rehabilitation activities are progressing according to the schedule agreed with the contractors.

NEK signed a contract with Toshiba Corporation (Japan) to repair hydro unit 1 in order to return the facility to service until it is fully replaced. With the Austrian consortium Voith-ABB NEK signed a contract for the repair and rehabilitation of hydro unit 3, for which a special engineering solution will be developed and implemented, similar to the one implemented for the rehabilitation of hydro unit 2.

In order to ensure sustainable long-term operation of Chaira pumped storage hydropower plant, NEK initiated a procedure for the complete replacement of hydro units 1 and 4 and received applications for participation from 5 companies, including leading companies in the hydropower sector. Bidders are currently being evaluated, after which a second stage of the tender will take place.

Georgi Dobrev is the new Executive Director of NEK EAD

08 March 2025

As of March 7, 2025, Georgi Dobrev assumed the role of Executive Director of National Electricity Company (Nationalna Elektricheska Kompania EAD).

Mr. Dobrev has an academic degree in law and has acquired additional qualifications in economics and management. He has many years of experience in the energy sector, holding successive management positions in various energy structures.

At NEK EAD, he will focus his efforts on accelerating the implementation of the company's existing projects as well as highlighting new innovative projects for strategic development and growth.

NEK signed contracts for repair and rehabilitation of hydropower unit 1 and hydropower unit 3 of Chaira PSHPP with the Japanese corporation Toshiba and the Austrian consortium Voith-ABB

08 January 2025

Thanks to the efforts of the teams, in 2025, two hydro units will be repaired in parallel at the Chaira PSHPP site.

NEK signed a contract with Toshiba Corporation of Japan for the repair of Chaira hydro unit 1, which will ensure the safe operation of the facility in the medium term. The signing was attended by the Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov and H.E. Hisashi Michigami, Ambassador of Japan to Bulgaria. The agreement is the result of successful negotiations between the parties who demonstrated a high level of professionalism, commitment and expertise.

Toshiba Corporation is the designer and original equipment manufacturer of the plant and their high expertise will ensure the best technical solution for the facility. The hydro unit is in its original condition and no rehabilitation work has been carried out on it since its commissioning in 1995. It is expected that the contract works will commence as soon as possible and the unit will be back in operation in 2026.

NEK signed a contract with the Austrian consortium Voith-ABB for the repair and rehabilitation of hydro unit 3 of Chaira PSHPP. The signing was attended by the Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov and Philipp Kupfer, Commercial Counsellor at the Austrian Embassy in Bulgaria. For the rehabilitation of the hydro unit, a special engineering solution will be developed and implemented, similar to the one implemented for the rehabilitation of hydro unit 2. Thanks to the successful implementation of a unique technological solution, hydro unit 2 was commissioned for 72-hour testing in late 2024, which were completed early this year. The preparatory works for the repair of hydro unit 3 are underway, and NEK has already completed the dismantling of the generator section of the hydro unit.

The signing of the two contracts represents an important milestone in the implementation of the strategy to fully restore the operation of the country's largest hydropower plant. The signed agreements underline the importance of long-term partnerships and innovative solutions in the energy sector, which play a key role in ensuring the security of the electricity system.

It should be recalled that in order to ensure sustainable long-term operation of Chaira PSHPP, NEK initiated a procedure for complete replacement of hydro units 1 and 4.

The implementation of the large-scale project for the restoration of the largest pumped-storage hydropower plant in the Balkans will contribute significantly to the successful integration of the growing renewable energy production in the whole region and to the achievement of the decarbonisation goals in national and European perspective. Bulgaria will also establish itself as a regional leader in green energy storage.