|
Bulgaria Energy Generation comprises of the hydroelectric thermoelectric, nuclear power and the conventional means of power generation. Towards the end of the 1980s Bulgaria generated about 43 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. The figures were expected to rise at a rate of 3.5 percent per year. The first step towards this was the adoption of the 1988 Program for Energy Development which was intended to serve the purpose and be a major boost to the industry through the 90s and continue well into 2005. The program aimed at an equilibrium in the generation, demand and supply of energy and focused on the maximum utilization of low cost coal and the local hydroelectric energy generation plants. Energy generation in Bulgaria took a giant leap with the signing of a bilateral agreement between the Soviet Union and Bulgaria. This collaboration was intended for exchange of technical and scientific knowhow in areas of hydroelectric, nuclear power and thermoelectric generation. The conventional means of power generation in Bulgaria caused a great deal of pollution. An attempt to lower the pollution rates was done by taking recourse to nuclear power generation. The establishment of nuclear power generation plants at Kozloduy was a big step in this regard. But over the years due to the lack of adequate infrastructure and the Chernobyl disaster the nuclear power plants were shut down.
|
