Successful completion of the Gabrovo Integrated Water Project, Bulgaria
From right to left: Mr. T. Donchev (Vice Prime Minister and Minister of EU funds and Economic Policies), Mr. B. Borisov (Prime Minister), Mrs T. Hristova (Mayor of Gabrovo), Mrs. I. Vassileva (Minister of the Environment and Waters Gabrovo), Mr. N. Sirakov (Governor), Mr. Hose Tapia (Spanish Ambassador),
The official inauguration ceremony for the Integrated Water Project in Gabrovo, Bulgaria took place on 04/09/2015, marking the successful completion of this major infrastructure project. The ribbon was cut by the Prime Minister Mr. B. Borisov, the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of EU funds and Economic Polices Mr. T. Donchev, the Minister of the Environment and Waters Mrs. I. Vassileva, the Mayor of Gabrovo Mrs T. Hristova, the manager of the Regional Water Company, representatives of the 5 Contractors and by Mrs Steffi Gourkova from GKW Consult.
This EUR 45 million project was co-financed by the EU Cohesion Fund, under the Operational Programme ‘Environment 2007-2013’, and the state budget was the biggest so-called ‘Water Cycle Project’ in Bulgaria. GKW Consult in consortium with the Consulting Engineering Group was awarded the contract to supervise the construction of the five Works Contracts that comprised the Water Cycle Project. Three of the Works contracts were for the rehabilitation and extension of the water supply system and sewerage network under the FIDIC ‘Red’ Book Conditions of Contract’, and two under the FIDIC ‘Yellow’ Book Conditions of Contract’ for the rehabilitation and extension of the WWTP (100,000 PE) and the PWTP (500 l/s). The overall length of the rehabilitated and extended water supply and sewerage network is 120 km and included the rehabilitation of 4 pumping stations and the construction of a new pumping station and reservoir.
The start of the 5 Works contracts were staggered and of different durations with all 5 being completed on time and within budget, reflecting the effort and dedication put in by the stakeholders and participants. The Gabrovo Water Cycle Project is recognized as the most successful water project completed in the country to date and following high praise from the Prime Minister is being held up as the model for the rest to follow.
