First sod on 3rd Wastewater Treatment Plant at Ellatzite mine
The construction of a new wastewater treatment plant commenced with a symbolic groundbreaking and water blessing ceremony on the territory of Ellatzite mine on 16 January 2024. The project is part of the measures set out in Ellatzite-Med’s programme for protecting and restoring the environment in the region of Ellatzite deposit and GEOTECHMIN GROUP’s strategy for improving water quality in the area where Ellatzite-Med operates.
‘We are marking the commencement of a project, part of our investment programme and the Group’s long-term strategy, by which we are aiming to achieve higher standards in environmental protection. Being a socially responsible company, Ellatzite-Med has invested and will continue investing in cleaner environment projects. Water management is our primary responsibility,’ said the Director of Ellatzite Mine Complex M.Eng. Vasil Shishkov.
M.Eng. Alexander Grigorov, Director of Environment and Water Department at the company, explained that the new plant will apply a wastewater treatment technology for highly efficient mechanical and chemical purification of contaminated mine effluents. He added that it is the fourth wastewater treatment plant in Ellatzite-Med AD and the second facility to be built using EnviroChemie technology. ‘With this project, we have reaffirmed our commitment to adhering to environmental water standards and protecting the waters of the Negarshtitsa and Malak Iskar rivers,’ he said.
The Mayor of Etropole Municipality M.Eng. Vladimir Aleksandrov congratulated the Group’s management team for their responsibility to protect the environment. ‘I am so glad that a 3rd wastewater treatment plant is going to be built on the territory of Etropole Municipality. Not many mayors of municipalities where mining operations are performed can boast of having so modern wastewater treatment plants. As Mayor, I am really proud of that.’ The Mayor wished lots of success to the company in implementing its investment programme and the construction of the new facility.
The new wastewater treatment plant will consist of modular units located in close proximity to the existing wastewater treatment plant applying a technology of the Japanese company MMTEC. The selected technology of EnviroChemie, Germany offers a sustainable and efficient solution for purification of pollutants from more than one source at the same time. Dr Maria Natcheva-Schwartz, Country Director at EnviroChemie GmbH Branch Bulgaria, said that it had taken two years’ joint surveys and analyses with teams from Geotechmin OOD, Ellatzite-Med AD and Geoproject EOOD before deciding which would be the best solution for the region.
