INVITATION FROM THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND ENERGY

On behalf of the Ministry of Economy and Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria I have the pleasure to invite delegates of ICOLD, experts and businessmen in dams design, construction and rehabilitation of dams and economy branches connected to it, to its 76th Annual Meeting, which will take place in Sofia in June 2008.

Dams are extremely important for Bulgarian economy’s sustainable development. The construction of large dams in the country is a part of the state policy for optimum use of country’s water resources. Now there are 215 large dams in Bulgaria playing a key role in hydro energy, irrigation and water supply. Large dams allow us to regulate and control big part of the seasonally unequal and small in quantity flow on country’s territory.

There are good perspectives regarding dams’ condition and construction in Bulgaria. Now the 132m high Tzankov Kamak Arch Dam is under construction. It is a part of Dospat-Vacha hydro energy cascade. Projects for a number of large dams for hydro energy and water supply are being designed now. A big challenge for dam engineering would be to use effectively the significant hydro energy potential and to provide all-year-long navigation in Bulgarian-Romanian part of Danube River. Another priority task is optimizing water usage and flood protection of trans-border rivers. This explains the significance and role of state level collaboration with countries neighboring to Bulgaria. The long-term road map on renewable energy sources approved by European Commission and including general and binding purpose of 20% is especially important for country’s energy development, in particular hydro energy and dams construction.

Not only economic indexes, but also issues connected to the security and ecologic expedience of dams, are among leading considerations for new dams construction and existing dam rehabilitation. State policy in this regard is to provide the projects and constructions of dams to be in conformity with current laws and norms. Commissions of correspondent operating enterprises periodically check on the condition and security of existing dams.
Current issues connected to dams design, construction and operation will be discussed and analyzed during ICOLD Annual Meeting. I am convinced that the meeting in Sofia will contribute to the fruitful work, experience exchange and useful contacts.

The present 76th ICOLD Annual Meeting will be held in Bulgaria for the first time. During the Meeting you will have an opportunity to see cultural and historical landmarks of Sofia, one of the most ancient European cities with rich history dating back to more than 7 000 years. Moreover, during the foreseen one-day technical tour you will have the opportunity to visit and have a look at some of the largest dams and hydro power plants in Bulgaria.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the 76th ICOLD Annual Meeting in Sofia.

Mr. Peter Dimitrov
Minister of Economy and Energy

INVITATION FROM ICOLD PRESIDENT

On behalf of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD - CIGB) it is my pleasure to invite all ICOLD delegates and dam experts to attend and actively participate in the 76th ICOLD ANNUAL MEETING, which will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in June 2008.

Two special circumstances surround this Annual Meeting in Sofia:

- The first of these circumstances is that ICOLD will celebrate its 80th Anniversary. ICOLD was established in 1928, so in 2008 the Commission will celebrate 80 years of its activity, although it did not meet during the World War II because of the adverse situation, so there have only been 76 Annual meetings. During the course of 2008, we will be taking part in a series of acts to mark this anniversary; one of the main celebratory activities will take place at the meeting in Sofia. Thus ICOLD, with strong and permanent structure that has been adapting and adjusting itself throughout the years to achieve its aims of working for the benefit of society, continues to hold its Meetings, Conferences and Symposiums every year, where its participants provide accounts of the state of the art where dams are concerned, explain how dams contribute to sustainable development and its management, taking into account the importance of technical, economic, social and environmental aspects.

- The second circumstance is that the Commission is going to meet in Bulgaria for the very first time, in Sofia, which lies in the heart of Balkan Peninsula, so this will provide an excellent opportunity to gain first hand insight into the water resources development situation in this part of Europe. Bulgarian National Committee on Large Dams (BUNCOLD) has been a member of ICOLD since 1938, so we will also be celebrating 70 years of BUNCOLD’s collaboration in many of the activities in which our organization has been involved.

Therefore, we are going to be celebrating two anniversaries: 80 years of ICOLD’s existence and 70 years of BUNCOLD’s membership, so we should all feel proud of our collaboration into sustainable development of water resources, and be thankful for the innumerable benefits that dams have provided throughout all these years.

The ICOLD Technical Committees are going to meet during the Annual Meeting; these Committees, with more than 400 experts from all over the world, are responsible on analyzing and proposing the latest breakthroughs in the area of dams, which will subsequently be published in ICOLD Bulletins. ICOLD will also be holding an Executive Meeting, at which 88 member countries of the organization will develop the policies and processes that have to be implemented in the next few years.

Finally, an International Symposium on “Operation, Rehabilitation and Up-Grading of Dams” is going to be held. The subject matter chosen for this Symposium is extremely current, because not only will experiences and problems revolving around dam operation be analyzed and discussed, but also the upgrading and adaptation of existing dams in order to meet more stringent safety requirements and new social, economic, environmental and climatic circumstances. Therefore, I would like to use this Bulletin to request that you attend this Symposium and play an active role in the events that will be taking place.

All these interesting activities are going to happen in Sofia that, with a population of more than 1,3 million inhabitants, is the capital of the country and the largest city in Bulgaria. Sofia is strategically situated, because it serves as a crossroads, constituting a gateway between Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and also lies midway between the River Danube and the Mediterranean, as well as between the Black Sea and the Adriatic. All of this accounts for the fact that Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and conserves marvelous monuments dating back to the Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Medieval periods.

That is why I urge you to accompany us at our forthcoming 76th ANNUAL MEETING of ICOLD.

Luis Berga
ICOLD President

INVITATION from the Chairman of the Bulgarian National Committee on Large Dams

Dear Colleagues,

In the eve of the 80-th anniversary of the foundation of the International Commission on Large Dams it is my honor to invite the ICOLD members and the experts on dams to participate in the 76-th Meeting of ICOLD, which will be held on June 2-6, 2008 in Sofia – the capital of Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is situated in South-East Europe, in the middle of the Balkan Peninsula. The country has limited water resources, concentrated in the mountainous regions. For the purpose of their more efficient use and better management during the second half of the 20-th century was carried out a significant construction of hydraulic structures. The Bulgarian engineers gained experience in the construction of 9 large hydro-power cascades, over 2100 dams, including 216 large dams, 42 large tailings dams, over 100 hydroelectric power plants, 4 pump-storage power stations and many other hydraulic structures, as well as in the construction of dams in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The underground pump-storage hydroelectric power station “Chaira” with capacity of 864 MW is the largest on the Balkans. The concrete hollow gravity dam “Vacha”, part of the “Dospat-Vacha” cascade is 145 m high and is the highest dam in Bulgaria. The last stage of this cascade, the arch dam “Tsankov kamak” with double curvature arch is 130 m high and is still in process of construction.
The technical tours during and after the Annual Meeting will be an opportunity for the participants to visit the most interesting sites, together with places of cultural and historical significance. The country is the cross point of ancient civilizations. Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Slavs and other ancient people have lived here.
Sofia is a city with more than 250 historical and cultural monuments. The Vitosha Mountain is in the immediate vicinity of the capital and dominates over it. The cultural program includes visits to significant places in Sofia and the country.
The organization and implementation of this event will be carried out with the kind support of the Ministry of Environment and Water, the National Electric Company, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy and private companies.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee you are invited to participate in this important event. We will do the best to make your stay in our beautiful country most useful and pleasant.
Welcome to Bulgaria!

Prof. D. Toshev
Chairman of BUNCOLD