ESO: Eight years - eight steps to success

2020 is the year in which ESO EAD completes the implementation of three projects of common European interest - the new 400 kV power lines connecting the substation "Maritsa East" with the substation "Burgas", the substation "Maritsa East" with the switchyard of TPP "Maritsa East 3" and Varna substation with Burgas substation. The other two projects of common interest, which ESO EAD is implementing for connection of substation "Plovdiv" with substation "Maritsa East" and for construction of a second interconnection between Bulgaria and Greece, are in an advanced stage of implementation.

The progress of the last eight years may be summarized as eight successful years and eight "first" places and steps leading to the successful implementation of this large-scale development program as a national and the cross-border transmission network.

The path passed through the perspective of managing the processes of attracting grants: 2013 - for the first time electricity infrastructure in Bulgaria received the status of a project of common European interest - the five ESO projects became part of the first list adopted by the European Commission. This allowed us to attract over BGN 215 million in grants in the coming years.

Also, all projects were identified by decisions of the Council of Ministers for sites of national importance and pre-investment activities were carried out under accelerated procedures. Last but not least, in September 2018 the National Assembly adopted amendments to the Energy Act, which allowed all permitting procedures to be completed within the deadlines under Regulation 347/2013 on the trans-European energy infrastructure and to start the construction of power lines in a timely manner.