Pirdop

Pirdop (Пирдоп ) is a town located in central-west Bulgaria in Pirdop Municipality of Sofia Province in the southeastern part of the Zlatitsa–Pirdop Valley at 670 m above sea level. It is surrounded by the Balkan Mountains (also known as Stara Planina) to the north, Sredna Gora mountain range to the south, and Koznitsa and Galabets saddles to the east and west, respectively. As of 2022, the town had a population of 6,739.

Economy


The main economic activity is non-ferrous metallurgy. The Pirdop copper smelter and refinery is the biggest in the Balkans and whole of South-Eastern Europe. It was privatized in 1997 for $80,000,000 and is now owned by the German Aurubis. It has a capacity of 160,000 tons and additional capacity of 180,000 tons worth €82,000,000 is being built. The factory also produces 830,000 tons  of sulphuric acid and employs 1,420 workers. The main chimney of the factory is 325 metres tall and shares together with the chimneys of Maritza East Power Stations the title of tallest man-made objects of Bulgaria.

Honour
Pirdop Gate on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Pirdop.