Cohesion Policy: Commission invests in better waste management in Bulgaria

Today, the European Commission has approved an investment of over €77 million from the European Regional Development Fund to upgrade the integrated waste management system in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria. The investment will support the construction of a high-efficientplant for the simultaneous production of heat and electricity, using fuel derived from unrecyclable municipal waste. Thanks to clean and advanced technology, the process, also known as “co-generation”, will give the citizens of the Bulgarian capital better access to affordable energy while protecting the environment. Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, commented: “Reduce, reuse, repair, recycle, recover and dispose: this investment is in line with the EU’s Waste Framework Directive and it’s essential for a modern, efficient and sustainable waste management system in Sofia”.  It is estimated that, when constructed, the plant will produce heat and electricity with a capacity of approximately 55 megawatts (MW) of heat and 19 MW of electricity. This means heat for 40,000 people and electricity for 30,000 people.This project is the final part of a 3-phase waste management programme to reduce the environmental impact of waste, improve recycling and stimulate investment in waste management in Sofia. Bulgaria has received a total of €204 million from the European Regional Development Fund over two programming periods – 2007-2013 and 2014-2020.