Just 6% of Hot Springs Potential in Bulgaria Revealed

A mere 6 per cent of the potential of groundwater thermal-mineral springs on Bulgarian territory have been revealed, geology professor Kostadin Shterev told BTA. The now operating natural and tapped springs have a flow of no more than 3 cu m a second with temperatures ranging between 25C and 97C.

The mineral waters and Bulgaria's geothermal potential hold unsuspected opportunities for economic and social development, as well as prosperity for more than 150 Bulgarian municipalities, Shterev affirmed. He is adamant that the mountain and coastal zones in this country have bio-climatic advantages over most of the spa resorts in Northwestern Europe, the Sudetenland, the Carpathians, France and even the Apennines.

The thermal mineral springs were found exceedingly on the territory of Southern Bulgaria and they could be the source of some 1,500-2000 MW of heat. This heat can be used mainly in local heating and hot water supply. In Northern Bulgaria, however, similar potential has not been used at all so far. Poor equipment accounts for this fact, in spite of scientists having established enormous accumulations of approximately 200,000 to 220,000 million cu m of mineral waters.

Most of the facilities for extraction have been built from 25 to nearly 50 years ago. In Shterev's words, the discovery, study and utilization of new and higher quality hot springs in Bulgaria has practically been brought to a halt in the last dozen or so years. Their potential in support of economic upsurge and prosperity of the regions still has not been realised and is consequently overlooked.

According to the scientist, this state of affairs could be remedied by radical revisions to legislation, the drafting of a national and regional strategies, promotion programmes for the development of resources in hot mineral springs.

(BTA)

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: