The Japanese corporation Toshiba will assist Bulgaria in restoring the operation of Chaira PSHPP without further delay
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation will assist Bulgaria in restoring the operation of Chaira pumped-storage hydropower plant as quickly as possible. This was agreed during the meeting of the Minister of Energy, Vladimir Malinov, with Takehiko Matsushita, Vice President, Power Systems Division at the corporation. They held talks in Tokyo where Minister Malinov is on a working visit. The conversation between Minister Malinov and Takehiko Matsushita is a continuation of the active communication between National Electricity Company of Bulgaria and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation regarding the Corporation's potential options for the restoration of Chaira PSHPP.
As a short-term measure, in the next two weeks National Electricity Company EAD will announce a public tender for the repair of Chaira hydro unit 1. This is necessary in view of its key importance for the country's energy system and its significance for ensuring electricity security. Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation is the manufacturer and supplier of the equipment for Chaira PSHPP and the owner of the technical and design documentation for the project. This necessitates the award of the repair work to this manufacturer. In the long term, a public tender is to be issued for the procurement and replacement of generators, turbines, main and auxiliary equipment, and control systems, testing and commissioning of Chaira hydro units 1 and 4, Minister Malinov informed.
"The corporation's involvement in the repair and rehabilitation works at the plant is key to its continued reliable operation in the future," Minister Malinov said. In his words, deepening the cooperation between Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation and National Electricity Company of Bulgaria is a leading factor in ensuring the security of the country's power system. Minister Malinov and Takehiko Matsushita also discussed other potential investment opportunities for Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation in the Bulgarian energy sector.
During his visit to Japan, the energy minister also held talks with Toshiaki Higashihara, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Hitachi, as well as Makoto Takashima, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sumitomo Mitsui Bank. The two are co-chairs of the European Relations Committee of Keidanren, the country's largest business organisation, which brings together companies from different sectors of the Japanese economy. Cooperation between Bulgarian and Japanese companies to achieve energy transformation in our country was one of the central topics of this conversation. The parties agreed that by the end of this year Bulgaria will host a business forum with the participation of companies from both countries.
Hitachi has expressed interest in participating in the expansion of the power grid in Bulgaria. The company also expressed its willingness to share its experience in the construction of transformers, as well as in the field of small modular reactors, it became clear during the discussion.
The Japanese Export and Investment Insurance Agency NEXI will assist any Japanese company interested in working with Bulgaria. This was discussed during the talks between Minister Malinov and Atsuo Kuroda, Chairman and CEO of the agency.
Before his hosts Minister Malinov expressed his confidence that his visit to Tokyo is an excellent basis for future deepening of the cooperation between Bulgaria and Japan, which already has decades-long history. The year 2024 marks 115 years since the first official contacts between the two countries and 85 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between them.
During his visit to Japan, Minister Malinov also met with the President of the Friendship Group with Bulgaria in the House of Councillors, Junichi Ishii. The promotion of ties between the two countries in all areas of mutual interest, business, tourism, exchange of know-how, culture, education and others, was at the center of the talks.
