Environmental protection at Pirdop

Aurubis Bulgaria is the largest copper producer in southeastern Europe and the second largest company in Bulgaria. Since the Pirdop site was officially opened in 1958, mainly copper anodes, copper cathodes, and sulfuric acid have been produced from primary raw materials.

Aurubis Bulgaria is the largest copper producer in southeastern Europe and the second largest company in Bulgaria. Since the Pirdop site was officially opened in 1958, mainly copper anodes, copper cathodes, and sulfuric acid have been produced from primary raw materials here.

In the last two decades, the plant has been converted into a highly modern, environmentally friendly operation. Since the acquisition by Aurubis in 2008, around € 165 million has been invested in modernizing the processes and improving the environmental performance of the site.

Because improving environmental protection remains a very important objective, about 20 % (~€ 75 million) of all investments at the site in the last five years have been allocated to environmental protection projects.

In the course of the extensive modernization, three significant, state-of-the-art environmental protection facilities have been built in the last several years. In November 2014, a new rainwater treatment plant was commissioned. The facility treats rain and drainage water from the 4 km² plant premises in order to continue reducing emissions to water.

A new additional treatment system for secondary hood off-gases has been in operation since March 2016. The new system utilizes a modern procedure known as Sulfacid technology, which is unique in Bulgaria and in the entire copper smelting industry.

In addition, a converter slag cooling optimization project (using pot cooling instead of pit cooling) went into regular operation in early 2020. This new facility further reduces the sulfur dioxide emissions and fugitive emissions from the smelting processes. The project will be expanded during the next several years to optimize cooling of the slags from the flash smelting furnace as well. The permit for the expansion was obtained in July 2024 and the construction started in September of the same year. More than 11,000 m² of green areas will also be rehabilitated as part of the project.

Aurubis assumes responsibility for environmental conservation. The plant is located near nature conservation areas. The closest are the Tsentralen Balkan buffer, about 1 km away, and Sregdna Gora about 2 km away. Protecting nature and biodiversity is one of our environmental targets, and Aurubis Bulgaria has defined measures to improve the habitat conditions of plants and animals. For example, we have taken the initiative to rehabilitate areas by planting grasses, bushes and trees. Defunct landfill areas on the premises are renatured in the course of their closing. Other environmental projects to reduce emissions likewise have a positive impact on the environment. For example, the reduction in metal emissions to water, which have been reduced by over 98 % since 2000, improves habitat conditions in rivers.

In 2006, Aurubis Bulgaria introduced an environmental management system in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard. The last recertification was successfully concluded in March 2024. The external audits carried out as part of the certification of the management system include a review of the environmental data, of the fulfillment of legal provisions, and of the effectiveness of the operating processes. During the second half of 2022, the energy management system pursuant to ISO 50001, the occupational health and safety management system pursuant to ISO 45001, and the quality management system were implemented at the Pirdop site.

Since 2011, an information center has been operating in Pirdop, which is used by the general public for information purposes. The environmental monitoring data can also be viewed by the public on monitors in the municipalities of Pirdop and Zlatitsa.

The results of the environmental monitoring are transmitted to the authorities. The reports prepared annually can be viewed on the homepage of the Bulgarian Executive Environment Agency.

The Pirdop site has been part of the EU emission trading scheme since 2008 and has continuously improved its energy efficiency over the years. Aurubis Bulgaria intends to make further investments in environmental measures and energy efficiency improvements in the future as well.

Environmental Protection Pirdop - facts & figures

Environmental Protection Measures & Projects