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Since the beginning of the celebration of the World Water Day on 22 March 1993, each year the focus has been on different aspects related to the conservation, access and management of this vital resource. The common unifying goal is to highlight the importance of water for people and our planet, the need for equal access to it, to draw attention to the challenges in its management, and to promote the process of making water a stabilizing force for sustainable development on a global scale.

In 2024, the theme of World Water Day is "Water for Peace" and is in line with the annual publication of the United Nations World Water Development Report published by UNESCO under the title "Leveraging Water for Peace and Prosperity".

The importance of water to people and our planet is so great that if access to it is scarce or non-existent, it can spark conflict. A key factor for water to be a catalyst for peace is an inclusive approach focusing on human rights, transboundary cooperation, and at the national level, coordination of interests between different water-using sectors.

It is a great pity that humanity is still far from ensuring equality in access to water and sanitation. Currently, 3 billion people worldwide depend on water sources that cross national borders. Of the 153 countries that share rivers, lakes and aquifers with their neighbours, only 24 countries have cooperative agreements in place for all shared waters. This fact calls for the development of agreements and the creation of institutions for the peaceful management of water resources that cross international borders.

The motto "Water for Peace" calls us to work together to balance access to water resources, to unite around our common goal - their conservation and equitable management.

In an era of climate challenges - alternating water scarcity, floods and droughts - the need for shared responsibility for the planet's water resources - at international, regional and local levels - is particularly strong. Cooperation on water will also contribute to building resilience to extreme weather events, help the earth's population to mitigate change and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. Being smart about water today is a guarantee for our tomorrow.

With its carbon-independent production of energy from one of the key renewable sources - water, National Electricity Company (Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania) uses this valuable resource extremely responsibly and contributes to the achievement of Bulgaria's and the European Union's climate neutrality goals.

We extend our greetings to all who value water with video footage from our hydropower sites.

NEK successfully completed the rehabilitation of Belmeken PSHPP

The plant will celebrate its 50th anniversary with completely refurbished turbine equipment, new spherical valve drives and completely upgraded control systems

NEK successfully completed the rehabilitation of Belmeken PSHPP and celebrated the event with the participation of Prime Minister Academician Nikolay Denkov and the Minister of Energy Mr. Rumen Radev. The plant will celebrate its 50th anniversary with completely refurbished turbine equipment, new SV drives and completely upgraded control systems.

"The refurbishment of the plant is part of the ambitious investment and repair program of NEK EAD, which has reached record values for the company in the past year. Aware of its responsibility as the largest producer of energy from renewable sources, NEK will continue to invest systematically in the maintenance and improvement of the hydro engineering facilities," said NEK CEO Eng. Martin Georgiev.

"We are in a place that combines in a unique way the natural beauties and resources of Bulgaria with engineering achievements," said Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov. He recalled that thanks to Belmeken and Chaira pumped-storage hydropower plants, Bulgaria is one of the leading engineering examples of how natural resources could be used for the benefit of the energy sector. Acad. Denkov stressed that research, innovation and new technologies have led to the fact that it is easier to create energy than to store it and use it when we need it.

Minister Radev specially congratulated the veterans present at the event for their tremendous work over the years. "I am very happy that the rehabilitation of this cascade with the last hydro unit has been completed. The rehabilitation of Momina Klissura hydropower plant was completed last year. I hope for a long-term, trouble-free and safe operation," Minister Radev noted.

The scope of the rehabilitation of Belmeken PSHPP includes design, manufacture, supply, installation, technical supervision, testing and commissioning of systems and equipment: hydraulic cylinders for the turbine and pump SVs, turbine equipment, including new turbine governors, nozzles and deflectors. New excitation systems, generator breakers and plant-wide control and monitoring systems equipped with new operator stations. The cost of the rehabilitation of Belmeken PSHPP is EUR 9,919,372.55.

After the ceremony at Belmeken PSHPP, Prime Minister Denkov and Minister Radev visited the machine hall of Chaira PSHPP, where they inspected the start of the rehabilitation works on Hydro Unit 2 with the application of an innovative engineering solution by NEK and the consortium that is the Contractor of the rehabilitation. The deadline for the completion of the rehabilitation of Hydro Unit 2 is by the end of this year, when wet commissioning and then commercial operation should commence.

Further information about the rehabilitation

The rehabilitation works are intended to reduce the maintenance costs of the hydropower facilities, contribute to improved performance in terms of voltage levels and frequency control, increase the operational reliability of the plant and increase power generation through more efficient use of the available hydropower potential.

The modernization is part of the Hydropower System Facilities Rehabilitation Project, co-financed with grants from the EBRD-administered Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund (KIDSF) and the company's own funds. KIDSF is funded by the European Union and the following donors: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.