AES' TPP in Galabovo hosted a working visit of the US Ambassador Her Excellency Marcie Ries and Deputy Ministers of Energy and Environment and Water

March 12, 2015

Today the  thermal power plant AES Galabovo hosted a joint business visit of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to Bulgaria H. E. Marcie B. Ries, the Deputy Minister of Energy Nikolay Nikolov and the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Boyko Malinov. The three officials acquainted themselves with the operation of the power plant, which is among the most up-to-date and environmentally-compliant facilities of its kind not only in Bulgaria, but also in Southeast Europe. The business visit was part of Ambassador Ries’ visit to the Stara Zagora Region. Deputy Minister Nikolov and Deputy Minister Malinov visited the  facility at the invitation of AES Galabovo.

“I am glad I came to see for myself what U.S. companies are doing here in Stara Zagora. I am happy to see they contribute to energy security and diversity, adhere strictly to environmental standards, support regional development through social programs and create jobs in the community,” stated Ambassador Marcie Ries after visiting the two power plants.

At AES Galabovo TPP Ambassador Ries, Deputy Minister Nikolov, and Deputy Minister Malinov were welcomed by the executive director of AES for Bulgaria Mr. Olivier Marquette and by the Chief Operations Officer for AES Bulgaria Leroy Reid, as well by the representatives of the operational management of the TPP. At the plant they became acquainted with the work of the TPP, which is the most modern facility of this type in Bulgaria and Southeastern Europe. TPP AES Galabovo is not only the cleanest, safest and most reliable power plant, transferring new technology and “know-how” in the country, but its technical parameters also allow it to be one of the most effective for balancing purposes for the grid operator. The main advantages it offers are the quick balancing service ± 6 MW/minute step of ramp up and ramp down of the unit load, the larger capability of our Units to deliver Secondary control, 180-343MW (gross) range per Unit. We are covering ± 15 MW (per unit) for 30 sec and keeping the achieved load for 30 min in Primary control. For comparison, the rest of the units, which participate in Primary control of the system can maintain the range ± 10 MW.

“AES is the largest investor in the Bulgarian energy sector with a total investment to date of EUR 1.6 billion. AES is providing safe, reliable, and environmentally-friendly energy, and participates in the Bulgaria’s energy independency by using domestic lignite as main fuel,” said Olivier Marquette. He noticed that the company is supporting the efforts of the government for deep and broad reforms in the energy sector, stressing that AES is part of the solution of the problem, related to the stabilization of the sector and its conversion in one of the pillars of the Bulgarian economy.