New French Hydro-Power Plant Unveiled in Bulgaria

The Dzherman hydro-power plant, an investment of „Electricite de France Energies Nouvelles“ (EDF EN), was formally opened in Southwestern Bulgaria on Saturday.
French energy company, which is one of the largest in Europe, has invested a total of EUR 4.16 M in the hydro-power plant.
The plant has a capacity of 3 MW; it will be producing about 10 500 MW/h of electricity a year. It was opened by Bulgaria’s Economy, Energy, and Tourism Minister Traicho Traikov and the new French Ambassador to Bulgaria Philippe Autie.
Dzherman is part of the hydro-power cascade „Iskar“ including the Pasarel HPP and the Kokalyane HPP, with a combined capacity of 53 MW. Part of the new facility will also provide the residents of the Sapareva Banya municipality with drinking water.
In 2011, EDF EN plans to start the construction of two photovoltaic facilities in Bulgaria; its investment in the solar parks will be about EUR 200 M.