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Bulgaria: Saving energy with Norwegian expertise

4 men looking at energy saving container
Norsk Energi’s consultant Sergei Faschevsky (blue jacket) discusses options for improvements with the local engineers. 
The company Plast Commerce 93 saved around 40 % of energy through a partnerships project with Norwegian Energy (Norsk Energi), supported by the Norway Grants in Bulgaria.

Plast Commerce 93 is a family owned company situated in Berkovitsa, North-western Bulgaria. The company manufactures polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is used in medical hoses and construction profiles, and various thermoplastic products based on PVC compounds.

The company had a very outdated machinery. The production, which included includes grinding, mixing and molding and pelletising of PVC material, was both inefficient and energy-intensive.

Impressive savings and production improvements

The Norway Grants project allowed the company to develop an innovative, efficient and green business. The Norwegian partner in the project, Norsk Energi, transferred good practice, know-how and expertise to Bulgaria on green production and sustainable business activities.

As a result, Plast Commerce 93 decreased its energy consumption with 35%, while increasing both the quantity and quality of production, even during the covid 19 pandemic.

Cooperation with Norsk Energi

According to Yordan Bozhkov, head of production at Plst Commerce 93, the partnership shaped the vision of the project and set off the “energy management campaign”.

Norsk Energi’s team consisting of Sergei Faschevsky and Tor Olav Eikrem, visited the production facilities of Plast Commerce 93, situated at the picturesque slopes of the Balkan Mountains in North-western Bulgaria. During the in-plant assessment and brainstorms, the Norwegian experts helped their Bulgarian colleagues to account major energy costs and flows at the company and to locate as many as 16 energy efficiency measures. With the help of the energy management plan, Plast Commerce 93 implemented the ISO-5001 three years after the end of the project.

With support, Plast Commerce 93 did an energy audit, implemented energy management measures and organised training for management and staff. Importantly, the company also improved its image among partners, clients, employees and the society, as Plast Commerce 93 demonstrated a green business model which set an example for sustainability in the sector.

Norsk Energi prepared an audit, a report, an energy management system and materials for the production, training and a workshop with the local community. The partners now hope for more joint activities and projects.

Yordan Bozhkov, head of production at Plst Commerce 93, concluded that “It was a great partnership”.

Norsk Energi in the EEA and Norway Grants

Norsk Energi has in recent years been involved in many such projects in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Poland and Romania. Their contributions have included consultancy work in energy management, analyses and air pollution reduction projects. Many projects have been in Bulgaria, where Norsk Energi has been engaged with a number of industrial companies and municipalities, as they have gradually built up a good reputation as a competent expert partner.

Read more about Norsk Energi here.

Main results of the project

  • Changed working behaviour of the employees of the company
  • Reduced electricity consumption with 35% or 102 000 kWh calculated for the PVC granules production
  • Increased production with 40% per year so far
  • Elimination of the unused waste production
  • Significant reduction of waste

Green Industry Innovation in Bulgaria

This project was supported by the Green Industry Innovation Programme in Bulgaria. See more opportunities under the SMEs Growth Programme in Bulgaria.

Follow the EEA and Norway Grants by Innovation Norway on Facebook or on LinkedIn to stay updated.

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