site.btaElectricity Distribution in Southern Bulgaria Gradually Normalizes after Heavy Snowfall

Electricity Distribution in Southern Bulgaria Gradually Normalizes after Heavy Snowfall

Plovdiv, Southern Bulgaria, March 11 (BTA) - The situation in
the southern regions of Plovdiv, Smolyan and Kurdzhali is
gradually getting back to normal after the recent heavy
snowfall. Some regions are still inaccessible due to fallen
trees and avalanches, but medics and rescue teams are working on
supplying them with food, medicines and medical care, the
Smolyan Regional Administration said.

The main problems with the electricity distribution network are
due to the lack of investments in recent years, said Deputy
Energy Minister Nikolay Nikolov. He took part in a conference at
the Smolyan Regional Administration's building about the
condition in the region and the disastrous winter conditions.
Nikolov noted that helicopter flights in the region will
continue on Wednesday to locate the spots where electricity
supply was cut off.

Smolyan Regional Governor Nedyalko Slavov said that calling off
the state of disaster will be discussed after the supply of
electricity is resumed in the municipal centres. Around 80
settlements in the region are still without power.

Kostadin Velichkov of the electricity distribution company EVN
Bulgaria, which services the affected regions, said that the
company has invested close to 140 million leva each year over a
four year period, while for the past three years investments
amounted to around 70 million leva annually, which is how much
the State has approved. Around six million leva are set to be
invested in the electricity distribution network in the region
of Smolyan this year, he noted.