German Investors Show Interest in Biomass Production in Bulgaria

Business » ENERGY | January 19, 2012, Thursday // 14:06
Bulgaria: German Investors Show Interest in Biomass Production in Bulgaria

German investors have shown interest in biomass production in Bulgaria, according to Agriculture Minister Miroslav Naydenov, who is on a visit to Berlin.

Naydenov will visit Green Week Berlin 2012, an international exhibition for the food, agricultural, and horticultural industries.

In his Thursday statement, as cited by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), he reminded that Bulgaria had already fulfilled its commitment for renewable energy production by virtue of wind farms and solar parks, but it had huge untapped potential for using wood waste to produce electricity and heat.

Naydenov drew attention to the fact that almost no sanitation felling was done in Bulgaria, despite the fact that it was highly necessary and beneficial for the forests.

If conducted on a regular basis, the removal of diseased trees could yield energy equal to Kozloduy NPP's output for a year.

Naydenov announced that Bulgaria was currently producing 5 million cubic meters of lumber per year but ought to produce at least double the amount.

He said that the remaining wood left to rot in the forests could be used in biomass plants, of which Bulgaria had none, which German investors saw as a market niche.

Bulgaria's Agriculture Minister stressed that biomass energy was cheaper than the renewable energy produced by wind farms and solar parks.

He explained that it was economically profitable to make small installations situated 40-50 kilometers away from the source of wood.

The issue of biomass was also brought up during Wednesday's meeting between Prime Minister Boyko Borisov ands representatives of the German business sector, with Borisov declaring the renewable energy technology a firm priority.

On Thursday Naydenov also revealed that German producers of agricultural equipment and tractors had also shown interest in Bulgaria and voiced hopes that Germany would back Bulgaria's plea that the EU clear the allocation of state subsidies for the segment.

Asked if Bulgaria had the potential to develop energy crops, he advised investors to not focus on this type of crops but to to go for plants traditionally grown in the country.

Regarding the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), Naydenov said that Bulgaria and Germany had very similar stances, with both countries supporting a gradual shift to renewable energy, support for beginning farmers and simplified procedures.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!

Energy » Be a reporter: Write and send your article

Advertisement
Advertisement
Bulgaria news Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) is unique with being a real time news provider in English that informs its readers about the latest Bulgarian news. The editorial staff also publishes a daily online newspaper "Sofia Morning News." Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency - www.sofianewsagency.com) and Sofia Morning News publish the latest economic, political and cultural news that take place in Bulgaria. Foreign media analysis on Bulgaria and World News in Brief are also part of the web site and the online newspaper. News Bulgaria