Ministry of Environment and Water Stops EIA for HPP in Natura 2000, Environmentalists Concerned

MOEW Suspends EIA for "Mala Reka" HPP in Natura 2000

An expected decision by the Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) has raised serious questions about the preservation of valuable natural resources. The ministry, through its specialized registry, has decided to terminate the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure for an investment proposal affecting a protected area of the Natura 2000 ecological network. This development leaves unanswered a number of concerns raised by experts and environmental organizations regarding the long-term impact of such projects on biodiversity and aquatic ecosystems.

The decision was published under № 14-8/14.08.2024 and concerns a proposal to build a "Small hydroelectric power plant (HPP) "Mala Reka". The project is located in the land of the village of Tserovo and aims to use the waters of the Mala Reka river for electricity production. Although this type of investment is often presented as a step towards diversifying energy sources, it is regularly criticized for its potential destructive effects on riverbeds and the habitats of endangered species.

The EIA procedure, which was terminated, was initiated on 21.05.2024 with incoming number 49497. According to the official document, the procedure was suspended due to

"failure to submit the required documents for the case file within the specified period"

. This formal reason for termination raises the question of the investor's responsibility and commitment to established environmental norms and regulations. Experts express concerns that such actions could be a tactic to circumvent strict environmental checks, relying on bureaucratic loopholes rather than a substantive analysis of the impact.

The location of the planned HPP is of great importance. It falls within the boundaries of the protected area BG0001389 "Gabra_, part of the European Natura 2000 network, created to protect valuable species and natural habitats. The natural environment in this area is extremely sensitive and is home to a number of species whose existence is under threat. The termination of the EIA does not mean that the project is definitively abandoned. It can be renewed at any time, which leaves the local community and conservationists in a state of constant anxiety. It remains unclear whether the investor will take new actions and whether they will comply with environmental requirements. Until then, the fate of the Mala Reka and its valuable ecosystem remains uncertain.

Despite the termination of the procedure, the questions raised remain. Environmental organizations and observers of the process emphasize that the formal suspension of a single project does not resolve the fundamental problems associated with the cumulative impact of multiple such projects on Bulgarian nature. Environmental advocates insist on greater transparency and stricter control from institutions to ensure that economic interests do not prevail over the preservation of Bulgaria's unique natural heritage, especially in areas that are under special protection by European legislation.