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BULGARIA

PUBLIC- PRIVATE PARNERSHIP FOR

REMEDIATION OF HISTORICAL POLLUTION

Dr. Vania Grigorova

Ministry of Environment and Water

Bulgaria

Managing for Development ResultsSecond International Roundtable, Marrakech,

February 4-5, 2004

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REMEDIATION PROGRAM OF

THE PIRDOP COPPER SMELTER

An Overview of Agency Approach to Managing for

Development Results

• Challenges and commitment

• World Bank support

• Project management

• Results and lessons

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CHALLENGES

• No prior experience; lack of technical skills in

remediation of historical pollution

• Little public confidence in government

sponsored environmental protection

• Lack of institutional experience in dealing with

foreign investors

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WORLD BANK ROLE

Support and guidance on institutional requirements, design and

implementation of a model for addressing historical damage

to environment which:

– Brought together all parties and stakeholders

– Defined the scope of critical requirements to eliminate

environmental hazards

– Established greater transparency through information sharing

– Defined monitoring of implementation requirements

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT• Project Oversight Committee established:MOEW, MOF,

Privatisation Agency, Mayors of the nearby communities

• MOEW took the lead in:

– Resolving conflicts during implementation

– Negotiating environmental compliance parameters

– Conducting monitoring of environmental performance

through its regional structures

Project implemented by UM and supervised by NETF

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RESULTS

• Site contamination remediated

• Large reduction in emissions– By a factor of 10 in air emissions, eliminated surface water

pollution and ground water contamination

• Company installed environmental management system

• Public trust in regulating authorities increased

• Institutional capacity gained by MOEW and other participating agencies in management and implementation of remediation projects

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RESULTS

• Transfer of knowledge and capacity building:

– Ministry adopted risk assessment method for remediation

projects

– Privatisation Agency engaged in EIA process and costing of

remediation prior to sale of sites

– New Regulation issued on Liability of State for Remediation of

Past Damage

• Active cooperation between government bodies

and private sector in project definition, funding and

implementation

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SUSTAINABILITY OF RESULTS• Regulatory framework which established a transparent approach

for addressing historical pollution in place

• Company launched a program for improved corporate

environmental performance

• Closure on issues regarding ownership of rehabilitated sites and

transfer of treatment facilities

• Commitment of the owner to future maintenance of remediated

sites

• Regular monitoring and reporting on after-care measures are

essential

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IMPLEMENTATION LESSONS

• Flexibility to adjust and find solutions to implementation problems is critical

• Teamwork essential– Adopt coordinated approach among government

agencies

– Between government and private sector

• Monitoring and evaluation essential for results and shared responsibility to sustain outcomes (e.g. company, REIs)

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The MOEW regarded this project as an excellent example of

joint effort and results on the ground

The experience gained through the project provided

confidence and a practical model for implementation of large

scale remediation programs

The outcomes of the project increased the trust in the GOB

capacity to extend remediation efforts and manage

environmental programs for sustainable results