February 2026

A high-tech wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was officially commissioned at Ellatzite Mine. The facility was built by Geostroy AD under difficult terrain and weather conditions. It is the third WWTP on the mine site and the second facility constructed by Geostroy. It covers an area of 4,336 m2 in close vicinity to the existing WWTP which operates using a technology of the Japanese company MMTEC.

The new facility uses a leading-edge wastewater treatment technology from the German company EnviroChemie, based on its modular EnviModul system. It consists of four modular units for chemical treatment with a capacity of 25 l/s each. The process is fully automated, integrating both mechanical and chemical treatment stages. The influent is dosed with four different reagents, depending on the specific pollutant composition and concentration. The modular units are equipped with in-line (pipe) flocculators, where the wastewater is intensively mixed with the reagents.

The plant’s initial capacity is to treat 100 l/s of contaminated waters. Gradual expansion is envisaged to reach the maximum capacity of 250 l/s by installing six additional modular units with a capacity of 25 l/s each. The financing for the plant’s upgrade has already been provided and works have commenced.

Ellatzite-Med AD is the project investor, Geotrading AD supplied the technological equipment, and the designer is Geoproject EOOD – all part of GEOTECHMIN GROUP. The construction supervision was carried out by SGS Bulgaria.

‘It is a great honour to open this new wastewater treatment plant together with you! The facility applies an innovative technology ensuring improved quality of the treated waters discharged into the River Malak Iskar,’ said Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov, President of Geotechmin OOD, during the official inauguration. Besides the positive environmental impact of commissioning the new plant, Prof. Voutov emphasized the key role of social responsibility and the cooperation between the companies from GEOTECHMIN GROUP and local communities. ‘Business cannot exist in isolation – it must be aligned with social policy, environmental responsibility and the protection of water and air. Thanks to the joint efforts of Ellatzite-Med and Geotechmin, our subsidiaries and local communities, we have achieved a balance between business, ecology and social accountability,’ said Prof. Voutov. He added that the economic and social results were achieved through teamwork and expressed his deep gratitude to Ellatzite-Med, Geostroy, Geotrading, Geoproject, and the other companies which contributed to this innovative project.

Dr Maria Natcheva-Schwartz, Country Director of EnviroChemie Bulgaria, noted that every drop of water that is collected or returned to the recirculation cycle is treated without compromise before it is discharged.

‘This project clearly demonstrates our consistency and responsibility in managing environmental aspects, in full compliance with applicable Bulgarian legislation and European best practices,’ said M.Eng. Draganov, Executive Director of Ellatzite-Med.

The Mayor of Etropole Municipality M.Eng. Vladimir Aleksandrov described the new facility as a project of national significance. ‘The wastewater treatment plant is of key importance not only for Etropole Municipality, but also for the entire region. Over the past 20 years, this is the third wastewater treatment plant that has been built on the mine site. We should all be very proud of this, and I am delighted, as Mayor, because few mines can boast of having more than one wastewater treatment plant on their territory. This is perhaps the only mine in Bulgaria with three modern wastewater treatment facilities,’ he stated.

Among the official guests were His Eminence Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovech, Mrs. Boryana Keremidska – Chair of Etropole Municipal Council, Mr Ivaylo Georgiev – Deputy Mayor of Etropole Municipality, M.Eng. Irena Petkova – Director of RIEW-Sofia, Mr Tsvetelin Pavlov – Director of the Danube Region Basin Directorate, and M.Eng. Petko Gatev from the construction supervisor SGS Bulgaria. GEOTECHMIN GROUP was represented by Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov, PhD Eng. Vladimir Vutov, PhD Eng. Ivan Vutov, Mr Dominic Hamers, and other senior managers and employees from the Group.

A solemn water-blessing service for good health and safe operation was conducted by His Eminence Metropolitan Gavriil of Lovech and Father Emil Yakimov. The official ribbon-cutting was performed by Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov, PhD Eng. Vladimir Vutov, PhD Eng. Ivan Vutov, M.Eng. Dragomir Draganov, Dr Maria Natcheva-Schwartz, M.Eng. Vladimir Aleksandrov, M.Eng. Irena Petkova, Mr Tsvetelin Pavlov, and M.Eng. Ivaylo Stanev.