UNWE and Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD Signed a Cooperation Agreement as Part of the Seminar on the Energy Ensurance in the Modern Security Environment in the Republic of Bulgaria

The National and Regional Security Department in compliance with the activities planned under the National Scientific Programme - Security and Defence /NSP S&D/ organized a thematic seminar on the Energy Ensurance in the Modern Security Environment in the Republic of Bulgaria.

During the event, a cooperation agreement was signed between the UNWE and the Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD /BEH EAD/.

The document was signed by the Rector of UNWE Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov and the Managing Director of BEH EAD Ivan Andreev.

Ivan Andreev, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, Director of the Center for Nuclear Security Support of UNWE and lecturer at the National and Regional Security Department /in the middle from the right to the left/

Prof. Dimitar Dimitrov opened the event and emphasized that the National Scientific Programme - Security and Defence is unique, for the first time in our country there is such a programme among the universities operating in the field of defence and security. "A lot of work was done within the framework of the programme activities, events were organized and held presenting the strategic tasks and the individual work packages and the level was very high. The programme also envisages joint work with the business and this event is a step in that direction. The state-owned Bulgarian energy companies are part of the strategic objects of national security so the joint work with them within the National Scientific Programme - Security and Defence and within the scope of the work of the National and Regional Security Department will give added value to the energy security and critical infrastructure of the country", said Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov.

"This forum is of utmost importance for us because its topic is part of the overall concept of nuclear safety and energy security. We need to focus not only on the technical aspects, but also on the philosophy in this field and its future development, so that our professionals and future students are well informed and familiar with all the specifics and requirements. We need to continue to work together for the development of energy security and nuclear safety", pointed out Ivan Andreev.

Within the scope of the agreement the two parties agreed to expand the opportunities for training, scientific research, feasibility studies and project activities, promotion and implementation of scientific, technical and professional achievements. The objective of the agreement is to increase the efficiency of educational, research and development activities in the field of energy. The opportunity for opening a new Master's degree programme in energy security was also discussed during the event.

"I would like to express thankfulness to Mr. Ivan Andreev and his team for the preparation of this memorandum together with Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov. I hope that it will lay the foundation of a long-term cooperation and will be beneficial for both sides for short or long-term training or for work on a project for small modular reactors", said the moderator of the event Assoc. Dr. Svetoslav Spasov, who is the Director of the Center for Nuclear Security Support of UNWE and a lecturer at the Department of National and Regional Security.

The Head of the National and Regional Security Department and Coordinator of the NSP S&D for UNWE Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov presented the Programme and emphasised that UNWE is a beneficiary of the Programme, which is implemented in a partnership with Prof. Tsvetan Lazarov Bulgarian Defence Institute, the University of Library Studies and Information Technology, G. С. Rakovsky Military Academy, the Centre for National Security and Defence Studies at Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the Academy of the Ministry of Interior, N. J. Vaptsarov Naval Academy, the Vasil Levsky National Military University and G. Benkovsky Bulgarian Air Force Academy. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov added that the implementation of the Programme will lead to increased publication activity, creation of modern models of management and operation, development of active relations between the scientific organizations and state universities in the country, involvement in scientific partner networks from abroad, creation of prototypes of tools and environments for more secure virtual communication as well as to improved interaction between the research and development units and enterprises.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Noncho Dimitrov

The Rector Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov presented the International Master's Degree Programme in Nuclear Security and pointed out that the Programme, which was launched in 2015, is the only one in the world that has been established in accordance with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/.

Within the frameworks of the Programme the Executive Director of the Electricity System Operator /ESO/ EAD Angelin Tsachev presented the investments and development of electricity transmission infrastructure and interconnection to maximize the growing share of electricity generation from renewable energy sources as well as the challenges of managing the electricity system in a liberalized and unified electricity market. He also outlined the prospects and opportunities for the hydrogen technologies development in support of efficient use of renewable electricity generation.

Eng. Martin Georgiev, Executive Director of the National Electricity Company /NEK EAD/, Angelin Tsachev, Executive Director of ESO EAD, Alexander Michaylov, Executive Director of the National Energy Operator /NEO EAD/

Dr. Ivan Hinovsky, expert at the Project Directorate of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant /NPP/ - New Capacities EAD, gave a presentation on the"Contribution of the NPP to the Stability of the Energy System in the Context of the Green Deal.

The Executive Director of the National Electricity Company /NEK EAD/ Eng. Martin Georgiev spoke about the role of hydropower in the energy transition.

Dr. Ivan Hinovsky /on the right/

Alexander Michaylov, Executive Director of the National Energy Operator /NEO EAD/, presented the types of technologies and the importance of electricity storage.

The event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Tsvetana Stoyanova, Vice Rector for Institutional and Business Cooperation and Student Policy at UNWE.

The seminar ended with a fruitful discussion.