YADENITSA PROJECT

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Project for increasing the capacity of the lower compensating basin of Chaira PSHPP by the construction of Yadenitsa dam and a reversible pressure tunnel for connection with Chaira reservoir (Yadenitsa Project/Yadenitsa Dam).

Yadenitsa Dam is an important investment project in the Programme of NEK EAD.

By Decision № 707 of 30 August 2012 taken by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, Yadenitsa Dam, which will be built as part of the Belmeken - Sestrimo - Chaira Hydro Power Complex, was declared a national project and a project of national importance.

The Project for increasing the capacity of the lower compensating basin of Chaira PSHPP by the construction of Yadenitsa dam and a reversible pressure tunnel for connection with Chaira dam has the statute of a project of common interest (PCI) for the European Commission.

The facilities planned for construction under Yadenitsa Project will create a system of connected vessels, which will increase the usable volume of the lower compensating basin of Chaira PSHPP from 4.2 mln m3 to 13.4 mln m3. The connection between the two reservoirs will be done by a reversible pressure tunnel, 6730 m long, with a diameter of 7.00 m.

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Established benefits from the construction of the facilities:

  • Increasing the efficiency of the NPP and TPP operation by switching Chaira PSHPP from daily to weekly operation (equalizing the processed water quantities in turbine and pumping modes);
  • Improving the structure of generating capacities;
  • Improving the structure of back-up capacities;
  • Improving the balancing capacities in the conditions of a growing share of RES generating capacities.

A Grant Agreement № INEA/CEF/ENER/M2014/008 was signed with the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) for performing of preparatory works until obtaining a construction permit for the Project. Funding was provided through the Connecting Europe Facility- CEF Energy. In the period from 24 April 2015 to 25 January 2018 NEK EAD successfully fulfilled the Grant Agreement "PCI: Pumped-Storage Capacity in Bulgaria - Yadenitsa", and all preliminary works necessary for obtaining a construction permit were ordered for carrying out within the frames of the Agreement. The Agreement reimbursed half of the costs incurred, in the amount of BGN 4 959 119.

On 25 July 2017 there was a meeting of the Supreme Expert Environmental Council at the Ministry of Environment and Water, which reviewed and positively assessed the prepared Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA). On 1 August 2017 the Minister of Environment and Water issued a Decision on EIA № 2-2/2017, which allowed the implementation of a project for increasing the capacity of the lower compensating basin of Chaira PSHPP by the construction of Yadenitsa dam, related with the investment proposal for Yadenitsa Project.

On 4 August 2017 the Minister of Environment and Water announced Decision №104 of 2 August 2017, allowing preliminary fulfilment of EIA Decision № 2-2/2017.

Both decisions of the Minister of Environment and Water were appealed by a fish association.

By Decision № 842 of 22 January 2018 the Supreme Court of Appeal rejected the appeal against the EIA Decision and it entered into force.


To date, the Detail Design complies with all applicable safety rules and follows the latest technologies for dam construction. The Technical Part of the future tender documents for an international tender has been prepared according to the world-recognized rules of FIDIC for construction works awarding.


The Detail Design has passed the Conformity Assessment for the Construction Part and has been agreed with a positive opinion by 26 competent authorities and companies. The final complete assessment of compliance with the requirements to the construction works in the Republic of Bulgaria is forthcoming. A financial analysis and risk assessment have been prepared.

An Order № РД-02-15-105 of 21 December 2018 became effective on 30 January 2019 for approval of the Detailed Spatial Plan of the Project for increasing the capacity of the lower compensating basin of Chaira PSHPP by the construction of Yadenitsa dam and a reversible pressure tunnel for connection with Chaira dam (Yadenitsa Project). 

 
On 19 July 2019 the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food issued a letter certifying that the conditions for applying Art. 73, para. 5 of the Law on Forests were met and the lands  in the forest territories falling within the scope of the Detailed Spatial Plan of Yadenitsa Project  changed their use.


The issuance of a Permit for water intake and water use from Yadenitsa River is forthcoming.

More information on the Project of Common Interest can be found at:

https://ec.europa.eu/energy/topics/infrastructure/projects-common-interest_en).