Belgium in Bulgaria: The green economy
In times of prevailing hardship, economic stagnation and austerity, the Fenix Invers project has shown how direct business relations between two countries, in this particular case, Bulgaria and Belgium, can be successful in the midst of adversity.
The newly operational plant shows how during a global economic downturn, through production diversification and vanguard technology, workplaces can be created in the sector of green technology that boost local employment and the local economy as well as being full of potential for healthy domestic and international expansion.
Fenix Invers OOD has inaugurated the first factory in Eastern Europe for the production of installations for waste water treatment, in the northern Bulgarian town of Lovetch.
On June 5 2009, the new industrial environmental production plant was initiated, in the presence of Belgian ambassador Marc Michielsen, the director of the Bulgarian Investment Agency, Stoyan Stalev, and professor Krastyo Petkov, managing director of Best2Be - Bulgarian branch. The main investment in the project comes from Bulgarian firm Fenix Invers, based in Lovetch, with Mihail Mihailov as managing director, while Belgian company Bela Alfa Forum provided the consulting assistance, as well as facilitating the supply, transfer and installation of technical equipment in the factory.
Concurrently, the Bulgarian–Belgian association Best2Be has granted its support for the establishment of bilateral partnerships between both countries, aiming to facilitate and boost mutual co-operation between industrial entrepreneurs from both countries. "The new high tech, state of the art production line will attain ‘revolutionary measures’ in the development and infrastructure of houses, small and medium-sized factories and rural villages," according to an official company statement.
Through purification installations the plant aims to provide for the needs of as many as 100 people. The standards and quality will be in full accord with the European directive om environmental protection and for the protection of rural areas which lack developed sewage and draining infrastructure.
The system itself consists of three operational aspects: pre-treatment, treatment and post-treatment phases. In the first regard, crude purification treatment is conducted in a large reservoir of waste water, interspersed with special enzymes and anaerobic microorganisms, facilitating the decomposition of waste matter.
The solution dissolving the waste substance consists entirely of homogenous elements, which, in turn, decompose easily at the end of the process. The second phase envisages purging in an oxygen enriched environment – accomplishing the dissipation of aerobic bacteria in the optimum manner possible. Lastly, the post-treatment process, conducted in a third reservoir, encompasses the complete extraction of all other "remaining and suspended matter". The outcome is purified water which is safe for cleaning, washing and watering.
The new plant will employ a permanent staff of 10 people, but "with logistical support and the affiliated marketing operation, staff will increase significantly," Petkov says.
Interest in the new environmental facilities currently emanates mainly from Bulgarian organisations – construction companies, architectural firms, municipalities, consulting firms and individuals.
A marketing network, however, is being primed to allow for market expansion both in Bulgaria and neighbouring countries. "For the moment, the factory is sufficient to satisfy domestic demand in the Bulgarian market," Petkov says. "Should we manage to establish a foothold in the Romanian, Turkish and western Balkan countries, we will contemplate an expansion of operational capacity."
A measure of more immediate strategy, however, anticipates Best2Be organising forums this autumn aimed at educating architects and consultants about the new technology and operational procedures.
Text and image source: sofiaecho.com
To see the presentation of the company, please follow the link:
(21.07.2009)