Creation of a Black Sea Regional Agency for Energy Management Seat: Varna

Implementation period:
January 2003 - July 2006

Funding organization:
Save ІІ Program of the European Union, General Directorate Energy and Transport (40 %)
Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (60%)

Genеral goal of the project:
The overall goal of the project is to support sustainable development and
effectiveness of Energy Management and Local Self-Government in the Black Sea Region. The Agency has been registered as a non-governmental organization in accordance with the Bulgarian legislation.

Specific goals of the project:
1. To contribute to the Regional Action Plan Development for the "Reduction and Stabilization of the CO, SO, NO and other emissions“;
2. To transfer the best practices and experience of the European Union and International know-how in the energy management;
3. To contribute through energy efficiency improvement to the resolution of national tasks of the energy and environment policy, thus contributing to the sustainable social and economic development of the Bulgarian Black Sea Region;
4. To create conditions for reduction of the burden of energy costs on municipal budgets and for utilization of the money saved for funding of other priority activities in the area of the Bulgarian Black Sea municipalities;
5. To contribute through energy efficiency improvement to the reduction of the energy costs of individual end-users in the municipalities in the North Black Sea Region (businesses and households);
6. To contribute to the formation of energy conservation policy at all management levels in the Bulgarian Black Sea Region as a means to achieve economic and environmental benefits for the region;
7. To promote RUE and RES and development of RES in the Bulgarian Black Sea region;
8. To assist the process of institutional development and capacity building in the Black Sea Region as a prerequisite for the initiation, development and implementation of energy efficiency programs;
9. To assist the local market development and to promote local manufacture of energy-saving materials, products and services;
10. To assist technology transfer and exchange of experience, know-how and information on energy efficiency;

Expected results:
1. Sustenance or improvement of the quality of life and of the environment.
2. Developed “Action Plan for Reduction and Stabilization of the CO Emissions”.
3. Permanent control of local operation costs related to energy use.
4. Increase of the economic benefits / profit of the building administration due to the application of energy conservation measures.

The Agency will work on:
1. Assistance to the small municipalities in the process of energy household savings as an example for other institutions
2. Provision of information and campaign for promotion of the environmental protection and the rational use of energy.
3. Support to the SMEs, private and public institutions in the energy efficiency projects implementation.

Contact person:
Tzvetalina Genova
Project coordinator
Tel.: + 359 52 611 811
E-mail: energy@ubbsla.org; coordinator@ubbsla.org