Sewerage Project In Sofia Faces Possible Suspension

The European Commission (EC) may stop  a major project for building a sewerage system in Sofia, backed by ISPA (the EU's pre-accession structural aid programme) unless the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (SCEWR) states its position on the proposed plan and charges of Sofiiska Voda by May 1.

Carsten Rasmussen, from the EC's Regional Policy Directorate General, revealed the possible move at a news conference on February 27, the Bulgarian news agency (BTA) reported.

The money under ISPA, totalling 58 million euro, was provided by the European Commission when there was a concession contract between Sofia Municipality and Sofiiska Voda. The shareholder in Sofiiska Voda, United Utilities, has invested little money due to low water prices and sewerage services and because the SCEWR has not approved the investment plan. In order to make investments, the price should increase to 1.20 leva from the current 0.85 leva, Rasmussen said.

A second supplementary agreement to the concession contract of Sofiiska Voda will secure 100 million euro in investments. The Environment and Water Ministry, the Finance Ministry and the SCEWR have been notified that by May 1 there should be a new agreement and new price schedules for this year and next, Rasmussen said.

If it fails to implement this project, Bulgaria will be punished twice: first, by not receiving the 58 million euro under ISPA, and second, for failing to meet the requirements for drinking water quality, which should be achieved by 2010, said Renaldo Mдndmets, also of the European Commission's Regional Policy Directorate General.

The guests from the European Commission visited two of the sites listed in the Sofia Municipality's Waste Management Strategy. According to Rasmussen, the sites are appropriate for building installations for treating solid household waste. There are two options for solid waste treatment, deemed appropriate for Sofia. One involves processing the waste to produce alternative fuel for cement mills and thermal power plants. The other option is thermal treatment, which is also used in other EU countries and meets all relevant standards.

Sofia Mayor Boiko Borissov told journalists that the money under ISPA will be withheld because of the SCEWR. "I hope that the non-populist parties will support the second supplementary agreement to the concession contract of Sofiiska Voda," the Mayor said.

Deputy Mayor Maria Boyadjiiska said that 99 land expropriation procedures need to be carried out in connection with the sewerage project under ISPA, but this is not a problem that would prevent the building of the system.

Deputy Mayor Maria Boyadjiiska said that 99 land expropriation procedures need to be carried out in connection with the sewerage project under ISPA, but this is not a problem that would prevent the building of the system.