The Ministries of Economy and Agriculture have identified urgent measures for the repair of the Ogosta Dam

The Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev, together with representatives of all responsible state institutions, have identified urgent measures for the repair of the Ogosta dam. It was attended by representatives of the State Consolidation Company (SCC), "Irrigation Systems" EAD, the State Agency for Metrological and Technical Supervision (SAMTS), "Montazhi" EAD, experts and engineers.

At the meeting in the Ministry of Economy, everyone united around the need for urgent repairs of the dam, so as to minimize the risk to the population of a possible overflow. A clear action plan was drawn up between the responsible state institutions. By the end of next week, one copy of the documentation for the repair will be transferred from the DCC to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, which is the owner of the Ogosta Dam, and within a month, a public procurement under the Public Procurement Act for the selection of a contractor must be announced. A project and construction permit has been prepared, it became clear at the meeting.

"After an inspection, it was established that the permit for the construction of the Ogosta dam expires in April 2025. It is necessary to quickly initiate the documentary procedure between the institutions, so that we have a clear plan for the repair of the dam," said Economy Minister Bogdan Bogdanov.

"Over the years, the repair of the Ogosta dam has not been prioritized, and the money has been spent," said Minister of Agriculture and Food Kiril Vatev. According to him, urgent actions are needed to reduce the risk of possible emergency situations.

The meeting also discussed the possibilities of providing a partial financial resource for the repair of the dam, and according to preliminary estimates, about BGN 10 million will be needed.

Emphasis during the meeting was also placed on determining what the dam will be used for. In this regard, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has started a procedure for analysis and assessment of the dam wall of the Ogosta Dam.

This is the second meeting held on the subject at the Ministry of Economy and Industry. We remind you that a month ago the experts identified specific steps in the repair that must be taken. According to them, the water slope of the wall should be repaired. Among the other urgent activities are the repair of the drainage channel, the anti-filtration curtain and cleaning of the dry slope of the dam, for which orders have been issued by SAMTS.