Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation will assist Bulgaria in bringing the Chaira power plant back into operation as soon as possible. The news was announced after the visit of the Bulgarian Minister of Energy, Vladimir Malinov, to Tokyo.

The Chaira pumped-storage hydroelectric power station in Rila, below the Belmeken dam, is the largest underground power station in south-east Europe, with four reversible pump turbines. However, it has been out of operation since 2022 due to its out-of-service turbines. 

Toshiba is the manufacturer and supplier of the plant's equipment and the owner of the technical and manufacturing documentation for the project. This made it imperative to award the repair work to this manufacturer, the Energy Ministry said. 

During Malinov's visit, it also became clear that Hitachi is interested in participating in the development of Bulgaria's power grid and is ready to share its experience in building transformers and small modular reactors.

The year 2024 marks 115 years since the first official contacts between Bulgaria and Japan and 85 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.