–
–
Laura Kjoveshi
–
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is taking over the case of the state-owned headquarters, which has been operating with limited capacity for years
The investigation of the Ministry of Interior for the repair of Chaira SHPP has been sent to the European Prosecutor’s Office. This is clear from a written response from Interior Minister Boyko Rashkov to the MP from “Democratic Bulgaria” Ivaylo Mirchev.
The National Police has started checking the repairs of the facility on a signal. Sufficient data have been found on crimes committed by officials and the case has been reported to the European Prosecutor’s Office with an opinion on instituting criminal proceedings, Rashkov wrote in his reply to the MP. A file has already been opened at the institution headed by Laura Coveschi.
The Chaira Pumping and Accumulating Hydroelectric Power Plant (PAVEC) is the largest facility of its kind on the Balkan Peninsula, but has not been operating at its full capacity for years. It was built by the Japanese company Toshiba. The plant is owned by NEK. The investigation is part of the action of the services due to the increase in electricity prices.
For several years, Chaira SHPP has been slowly but surely destroyed, most likely in view of the interests of an economic entity in our country. We have an orientation about who he is. Damages to this energy source have been caused in his favor “, said Boyko Rashkov 3 weeks ago after a government meeting. The preliminary inspection then showed that instead of the plant being repaired by the builder, “garage companies” were hired, which do not have the capacity to do so. “We have suffered enormous material damage,” Rashkov said.
The state-owned Chaira SHPP has a role to play in balancing the energy system. When it is not functioning, the state pays to private TPPs. The repair of the pumped storage HPP has been delayed for years.
Two of the plant’s units were shut down for rehabilitation years ago. Already in 2013 a contract was signed to finance the repairs. The contracts were concluded in 2019 without a public procurement, as in the case of the Hemus highway. The activities are not over yet. 70% of the money is European funding (26m euros), which is why the investigation is now going directly to Laura Coveschi. “24 Chasa” sent an inquiry to the European Prosecutor’s Office about the progress of the investigation, the answers are expected next week.
NEK said it would comment after reviewing the minister’s response to MP Mirchev.
–
