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Prof. Dimitar Toshev, Honorary President of BUNCOLD, 80 years young
Prof. Dimitar Toshev, Honorary President of BUNCOLD, 80 years young
Prof. Dr. Eng. Dimitar Toshev graduated from the Higher Institute of Civil Engineering (HICE) in 1969 as MSc in “Irrigation
and Drainage Engineering”. Until 1973, he was a designer at the Institute of research and Design “Vodproekt”, Sofia, after which he
became a lecturer at the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at the HICE. In 1983, he obtained his degree “Doctor” and in 1987 was elected
as an “Associate Professor”, in 2011 – as a “Professor” at the same department. From 2000 to 2012, he was the head of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering.
Prof. Dimitar Toshev has been an active member of the Bulgarian National Committee on Large Dams (BUNCOLD) for many years –
the National Committee of our country to ICOLD, and its President from 2002 to 2017. Since then, he has been its Honorary President.
From the position of his intensive educational and pedagogical activity, many-sided research and practical work in the field of Dam and
Hydraulic Engineering in general, he is a true motor of the BUNCOLD for the exchange of up-to-date specialized information and constant
dialogue – both within the circles of the professional association and with the institutions and the public, for the solution of current
problems in all aspects of dams and tailings dams in our country. With his tireless work capacity, initiative, communication and leadership
skills and uncompromising professionalism, Prof. Toshev has been an example for many years, who on behalf of the BUNCOLD has equally successfully
attracted colleagues of different generations. And he did this not only in our country. On the ICOLD stage, with his activity and presence, he is
still a figure who is remembered with warm feelings.
In our country, Prof. Toshev organized numerous specialized forums in the field of Dams, which enriched the professional community.
An unsurpassed peak in our national professional tradition, however, was the 76th Annual Meeting of ICOLD, organized primarily by him in 2008.
in Sofia with more than 700 participants from over 60 countries of the world. From modest personal experience, I am happy to confirm that
many foreign colleagues associate our country precisely with the memory of this forum.
Much more can be said about the Honorary President of the BUNCOLD, Prof. Dimitar Toshev. In fact, this is best done by his research and engineering work and the experts he has built up.
Happy 80th jubilee, dear Prof. Toshev! Be healthy with us for many happy years!
Sofia, 22. October 2025
In the name of BUNCOLD:
Prof. Dr. Eng. Dimitar Kisliakov,
President of BUNCOLD
17TH ICOLD INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK WORKSHOP ON NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF DAMS, 9TH ‐ 12TH APRIL 2025, SOFIA, BULGARIA
We have the special honor and privilege to inform you that from 09th April to 11th April 2025, at Inter Expo Center in Sofia, Bulgaria, the 17th ICOLD International Benchmark Workshop on Numerical Analysis of Dams was held.
The organizer of this high-tech event is traditionally Technical Committee A "Computational Aspects of Analysis and Design of Dams" at the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD). This year, the host of the Benchmark Workshop was the Bulgarian National Committee on Large Dams (BUNCOLD) – the representative of our country in ICOLD.
This extremely prestigious event in the field of dams was attended by 36 prominent scientists, PhD students, researchers, leading engineers and experts from all over the world, who delivered reports on predetermined topics and participated in the subsequent discussions. On 12th April 2025, a technical visit to the Tsankov Kamak dam was organized for the participants, where the hosts from the Enterprise “Dams and Cascades” of NEK EAD introduced the facilities of the dam and hydroelectric power plant to the guests.
Given the growing strategic role of dams in Bulgaria and especially in the context of adverse climate change, the holding of this Benchmark Workshop clearly represents the support and recognition for our country and the contribution of Bulgarian experts to the research, design, construction and operation of dams and the rational use of water resources in our country
We, from the Bulgarian National Committee on Large Dams, in our capacity as host and co-organizer of the event, express our sincere gratitude to the Natsionalna elektricheska kompania EAD, Asarel Medet AD, ISTA Andreeva OOD, Napoitelni sistemi EAD, Hydrogeokomplekt EOOD and VJF Engineering EOOD, who, in their capacity as donors and sponsors, supported this event and made a significant contribution to its implementation.
91st Annual meeting of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) in Gothenburg, Sweden
From June 10 to 15, 2023, the 91st annual meeting of the International Commission on Large Dams - ICOLD - was held in Gothenburg (Sweden). In the work of this most authoritative forum in the field of dams in the world, the chairman of the BUNCOLD – the Bulgarian National Committee at ICOLD, Prof. Dr. Eng. Dimitar Kisliakov, who was also the only representative of our country, took part. The scientific program of the symposium within the framework of the meeting also includes the only report presented from our country "A comparative study on the numerical response of a rockfill dam to artificially generated and recorded acceleration time-histories" with authors Anton Tzenkov, Dimitar Kisliakov, Markus Schwager. In the Technical Committee (TC) A "Numerical aspects of the analysis and design of dams", on behalf of Dr. Eng. Anton Tzenkov, D. Kisliakov presented an updated report on our progress in organizing the 17th Benchmark Workshop on Numerical Analysis of Dams, which will be held in Sofia in 2024. The specific tasks, the formulation of which is already being worked on, were specified. In the work of TC H "Dam safety", the representative of our country Prof. Dr. Eng. Dimitar Kisliakov participated as a regular member. The chairman of the BUNCOLD also participated in the General Assembly and held a number of contacts with foreign colleagues and representatives of specialized companies.
27th Congress and 90th Annual meeting of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) in Marseille, France
From May 27 to June 3, 2022, the 27th Congress and 90th Annual meeting of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) took place in Marseille (France). For various reasons, this time in the work of this worldwide most authoritative forum in the field of dams, none of the members of the Bulgarian National Committee on Large Dams (BUNCOLD) could take part. Fortunately, our country was represented by Dr. Eng. Anton Tsenkov, who participated in the scientific program of the forum and in the ICOLD General Assembly on behalf of Bulgaria. Dr. Eng. A. Tsenkov presented in the scientific program of the congress on Question 104 the only report presented by our country: "Strengthening of Beli Iskar concrete gravity dam" with authors Anton Tsenkov, Dimitar Kisliakov and Ognyan Todorov. As a member of the Technical Committee (TC) A "Numerical aspects of the analysis and design of dams", Dr. Eng. Anton Tsenkov confirmed the decision made in 2019, that the traditional Benchmark Workshop on Numerical Analysis of Dams, held every two years, will be held in Sofia in 2024. This specialized and high technology workshop will be hosted by the BUNCOLD, and the shift by one year (instead of 2023 to 2024) was made necessary due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 epidemic. Our work on the preparation of this workshop has already begun. In TC H "Dam safety", the representative of our country Prof. Dr. Eng. Dimitar Kisliakov (Chairman of the BUNCOLD) participated in the work remotely.
World Water Day 2022
By tradition, the Bulgarian National Committee on Large Dams (BUNCOLD)
at the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), celebrates World Water Day every year on March 22 with a scientific and applied conference.
Due to the epidemic situation, this tradition was temporarily interrupted, but fortunately this year we were able to gather again and
directly discuss certain issues related to the waters of Bulgaria. This year, on the occasion of Water Day, we organized a wider discussion
forum dedicated to the dams in our country. The meeting was held on April 15 in the Maxima Hall of the University of Architecture,
Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG) at 1 Hr. Smirnenski Blvd. in Sofia. Our goal this time was to gather the widest possible
range of people employed in this field, resp. interested and responsible parties to meet in a constructive dialogue on: State of the dams in Bulgaria.
Current problems and ideas for solutions.
It was held on April 15, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. in the Maxima Hall of the UACEG at 1 Hr. Smirnenski Blvd. in Sofia. The planned discussions focused on two specific topics as follows:
1) Administrative problems of dams in our country (ownership, regulations, administrative procedures, safety requirements, responsibilities)
2) Hydro-economic exploitation of dams in our country (water resources - data, analyses, planning, climate changes, risks)
After brief greetings from the Rector of UACEG Prof. Ivan Markov, the Deputy Minister of Energy Eng. D. Nikolov,
the Chairman of the Management Board of the State Enterprise for the Management of Dams (DPUSYA) Mr. Ts. Bunchev,
the Chairman of the State agency for metrological and technical supervision (DAMTN) Mr. P. Gornovski,
on the first topic reports were presented by Eng. Iv. Buzov from DPUSYA, Eng. M. Piryankova from DAMTN
and Mr. Bl. Stanchev from the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NSORB).
In these reports, the main problems in the field of dams in our country were raised from the point of view of the relevant institution.
After a short break, on the second topic, Engineer P. Balieva from the Directorate "Water Management" of the Ministry of Environment and water,
in which the principles and mechanism by which water management is carried out in our country, were explained. After that, Prof. O. Santurdzhian, DSc,
presented a report in which he illustrated a model developed by him for the water management of a dam reservoir, which has already been successfully
applied to a number of sites in Bulgaria. The presentations are available to interested colleagues at the BUNCOLD.
More than a total of four hours was not enough for the presentation of the main problems and activities in the field of dams in our country,
and unfortunately there was not much time left for more detailed discussions on the two main topics. This only showed how timely this discussion
meeting was in the implemented format and how much such forums are needed to initiate united and purposeful efforts to solve the current problems.
Unfortunately, with very few exceptions, the top echelon of government was not represented, despite invitations being sent. The same applies to the mass media,
with the exception of the profiled newspaper Stroitel, which covered the event. However, after two years of severe isolation, the meeting was a joyful occasion for
the presence of the specialized collegium and the interested parties in this field
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"World Declaration on Dam Safety"
The text of the Declaration can be found here>>
Protocol Form 16
On June 25, 2019, Protocol "Form 16" was signed, with which the State Commission officially put the "Plovdivtsi" dam near Rudozem into regular operation.
Seminar
At the end of March 2019, the eighth Bulgarian-Austrian Seminar on Hydraulic Engineering was held at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG) in Sofia.
Conference on Hydraulic Engineering
At the end of March 2019, the eighth Bulgarian-Austrian Seminar on Hydraulic Engineering was held at the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy (UACEG) in Sofia.