About Tsankov Kamak Dam

Tsankov Kamak Reservoir is the newest large dam in Bulgaria, completed in 2012 on the Vacha River in the Western Rhodope Mountains of Plovdiv Province. With a dam height of 130 metres and a storage capacity of 110.7 MCM, Tsankov Kamak occupies a narrow, steep gorge carved by the Vacha River through ancient granite and gneiss bedrock. It functions as an intermediate storage reservoir in the Dospat-Tsankov Kamak-Vacha hydropower cascade, receiving water released from the Dospat Reservoir above and in turn releasing to the Vacha Reservoir below. The cascade system enables flexible scheduling of electricity generation across all three reservoirs, maximising the economic value of the stored water through peak-time discharge. Construction of Tsankov Kamak was controversial due to its location within the Rhodope Mountains, a region with significant environmental and cultural sensitivity. The reservoir flooded part of a valley used by local Rhodope communities and prompted lengthy public debate about the balance between renewable energy development and landscape conservation. The Rhodope Mountains around Tsankov Kamak receive substantial precipitation exceeding 900 mm annually, with deep winter snowpack ensuring reliable spring recharge for the entire cascade system. The dam is operated by the Bulgarian Energy Holding as part of its portfolio of Rhodope hydropower assets.