Minister Malinov: NEC is being as frugal as possible with the water in its dams, but the useful volume is decreasing due to the drought

The hydroelectric power plants of the National Electricity Company (NEC) primarily meet the needs for drinking and domestic water supply and agricultural purposes. This was stated by the acting Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov in the National Assembly in connection with the problems with water shortages in the country and the measures taken by the government to overcome the water crisis in both the short and long term. He pointed out that NEC manages 21 complex and significant dams.

Minister Malinov stressed, quoted by BTA, that NEC always strives to strictly comply with the requirements set out in the schedules, which are mandatory for implementation.

From the analysis of the condition of the reservoirs, it becomes known that as a result of the prolonged dry period, by the end of November 2024, the stored volumes of the dams operated by NEC are lower than the average values ​​for the season, compared to the period of the last 10 years, both on an arithmetic average basis and for each individual year.

The acting minister added that a month after the end of the irrigation season, lower stored volumes are also observed in the complex and significant dams intended for electricity generation and irrigation. He specified that as of October 1, 2024, the available water volumes in the dams managed by NEC as a percentage of the total volume are about 62.7 percent, and as of December 11 - 64.3 percent.

The Minister drew attention to the fact that the lack of sufficient precipitation, which has been significantly below the norm since the beginning of 2024, has affected the percentage of accumulated water volume used both to meet the needs of industrial and drinking water supply, and for electricity production. Therefore, compared to the same period last year, the volume stored in managed dams as a percentage of the total volume is lower by 2.4 percent.

To compensate for the lower levels in the dams, NEC is applying a conservative and maximally economical approach to the use of water for electricity production, Malinov pointed out. This approach is also confirmed by the 1.6 percent increase in the total available volume in the dams from the beginning of October to the present, which is due to the lower percentage of electricity produced for the market.

The majority of the dams managed by NEC are of complex purpose, with the water from them being used for water supply, irrigation and electricity production. The goal of the Ministry of Energy and NEC is balanced and effective satisfaction of all consumers.

The acting Minister of Energy added that the operation of the hydroelectric power plant was mainly subordinated to irrigation needs, and electricity production during the past summer season was an additional effect of the complex use of the resource and did not take away water intended for irrigation needs. Due to the high share of electricity produced during the summer season from renewable sources, this was used to reduce the share of hydropower produced. "We have provided irrigation volumes by 20 percent more compared to the average values ​​for the previous 5 years," said Vladimir Malinov.

In the dams managed by NEC, including those for drinking and domestic water supply, additional volume has been provided to meet the needs of the population. The minister drew special attention to the fact that in the most strategic NEC dam for drinking and domestic water supply - Iskar dam, the pumped volume is 75 percent, which is enough to meet the needs of Sofia even if the dry period trends continue next year.