EP North invested BGN 1.15 million in bird protection devices in the last four years

Since the end of 2022, the company participates together with BSPB in a project funded under the EU LIFE program for the conservation of protected species of birds

Nearly 21,300 bird protection devices of various types have been installed by ERP North since the beginning of 2020 on the network in North-East Bulgaria. The value of the funds invested by the electricity distribution company for the safety devices is BGN 1.15 million. Among the main priorities in the work of ERP North, on a par with the quality of the service provided, is the safety for the health of people living near power lines, company employees, birds and animals inhabiting the power supply areas. The safety inspectors in the energy company are in constant contact with the RIESV and the town halls in places to coordinate the activities for the protection of birds, which prefer the electricity distribution facilities for residence and nesting.

From the end of 2022 EPR North in cooperation with the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) has launched its participation in a project under the LIFE program of the European Union. The initiative, entitled “Safe Sky for Birds in North-East Bulgaria”, is aimed at preventing bird mortality caused by electric shock and collision with overhead power lines. The project targets 16 target bird species, mainly threatened with extinction and included in various conservation lists. The procurement contract for the supply of bird protection devices announced by EPP North for the purposes of the project is already underway and after receipt of the materials, the actual work on securing the net will begin.

The participation of ERP North in the project is in line with the company's policy to protect the life and health of birds in the serviced territory. The project will last 5 years and foresees the investment of 3.3 million for securing 10,000 electrical poles on the grid in North-East Bulgaria, as well as for marking overhead power lines with 5,000 reflective markers (so-called diverters). For this purpose, 28 specially protected areas have been selected from the Natura 2000 network in North-East Bulgaria and in key corridors between them. More information about the types and planned activities included in the project can be found on the project website https://safeskyforbirds.eu.

Photo: Nikolay Petkov