The first local sustainable energy planning training course under DFID funded project “LSEP: Planning for Sustainable Communities in Bulgaria ” was organized in Velingrad in the period 15-19 March 2004. The consultants from ESD-Bulgaria and ESD Ltd.UK were lecturers on the training.

This is the first phase of the local sustainable energy planning training course aiming to transfer skills and knowledge to the Bulgarian municipal and regional authorities to develop sustainable energy plans, integrate these plans into their municipal plans for sustainable development and monitor their successful implementation. On the training course, the consultants from ESD-Bulgaria Ltd. and ESD Ltd. - UK presented the in detail the process of developing and implementation of LSEP (local sustainable energy plan). The main tool used during the training was the CD with the “LSEP Methodology” developed by the consultants of ESD-Bulgaria and ESD Ltd.

Twenty representatives from the pilot regional and municipal administrations (Velingrad, Kustendil, Pazardjik, Sapareva Bania), NGOs, local stakeholders, representatives of DFID, ESD-Bulgaria and ESD Ltd. UK were present on the training.

The LSEP methodology on CD and other materials and documents was distributed as support tools to the participants in the training.