SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, JOINT PLANNING AND UTILIZATION OF REGIONAL RESOURCES
22.03.2014

On the eve of World Water Day - Water and energy; "Preparation for the implementation of vital rivers and environmentally friendly renewable energy"

On the eve of World Water Day, Nis Faculty of Safety in the City Municipality of Palilula is successfully ending the activity of the one-year cross-border project "Preparation of the river for the implementation of viable and environmentally friendly renewable energy" implemented with Bulgarian partners. Last week the information is published that the EU Commissioner approved the initiative of European citizens the right to water (Right2Water) and compiled a list of obligations in accordance with this requirement.

Rivers are large natural resources of southeastern Serbia and western Bulgaria, but are not used as a renewable and environmentally friendly source of energy. That's why Nis Faculty of Occupational Safety, together with the University of Mining and Geology "St.. Ivan Rilski "in Sofia, embarked on a cross-border project" Preparation of the river for the implementation of viable and environmentally friendly renewable energy". We wanted,  said prof.drLjiljana Zivkovic, Dean of FZNR in Nis, to investigate how the rivers on the border between the two countries, can be used as sources of energy that do not have a bad impact on the environment, but also as a way to attract investors to build power plants.

As the target group of this study, according to Kamen Rangelov, project manager, the municipalities in the border area are selected near the river Nisava, Erma, Struma, Vlasina Lake. Then Pcelinja, an artificial lake areas Sofia, Pernik, Kyustendil, Montana, Pirot, Pčinja , Jablanica, businesses in border areas, commercial and industrial chambers. The main objective of the project is aimed at promoting and increasing the use of renewable energy by providing methodological and technical support, which will attract potential investors in cross-border areas. During the project there will be analysis of all processes associated with the development of hydroelectric power from the conceptual idea to implementation, together with a review of potential sites for future implementation of hydropower in the River Nisava, Erma, Struma and Vlasina and Pčelinja lake. As a special project objectives, it were set: overview and highlighting differences of legal and institutional framework in the field of renewable energy sources (particularly regulations relating to small hydro power plants) in BG and SRB; Comparison of existing types of water turbines and indicating the best solutions to environmental, social and terms of efficiency; Identification and examination of potential sites for the implementation of small hydropower plants with a screw impeller in the river valleys Nisava, Erma and Struma and areas Vlasina and Pčelinja lakes; A study on the environmental and social impact of small hydro power plants; Making a detailed manual for the implementation of small hydropower plants with a screw impeller in the border areas and dissemination of these findings to all stakeholders; Providing continuous support to all stakeholders across the developed project site.

 From project activities of project teams of the two countries we can point out Making Study of hydro Research transboundary water -resource development of common methodology. There is also a comparative study of small hydro plants, location of studies on rivers Nisava Jermi , Strumica and Vlasina and Pčelinja lake; Geological analysis of Nisava river, Erma, Struma and Vlasina and Pčelinja lakes; Analysis of the existing infrastructure in the vicinity of rivers Nisava, Jerma, Struma and Vlasina and Pčelinja  lakes; Anthropological Research; A study on the impact on the environment; Analysis of potential sites for implementation of hydropower turbine with a screw impeller; Joint training at the University of Mining and Geology and the Faculty of Occupational Safety in Niš organized in Sofia and Nis. It was on the Implementation Manual small hydro plant with screw impeller; Design and development of web site design; Workshops were held for the presentation of the Manual for the implementation of small hydropower plants with a screw impeller.

Improving the capacity for joint planning, problem solving and development in the region, through the project "Preparation for the implementation of vital rivers and environmentally friendly renewable energy," University of Mining and Geology in Bulgaria and the Faculty of Occupational Safety in Niš, in cooperation with Pernik Chamber of Commerce and Industry and regional Environmental center for central and Eastern Europe, is an example of good practice and effective use of regional resources.