Sofia, March 24 (BTA) - The balance (export-import) of
electricity has increased by 113.39 per cent for the period
January 1, 2021 - March 21, 2021 compared to January 1, 2020 -
March 21, 2020. This is shown by the latest operational data of
the Electricity System Operator (ESO) on the energy balance of
the country for the indicated period, which are published on the
 operator's website. From January 1, 2021 to March 21, 2021 the
balance (export-import) was 998,732 MWh, while for the same
period last year it was 468,026 MWh.

The data also show that electricity production in Bulgaria
increased by 4.61 per cent over the same period. Between January
 1, 2021 and March 21, 2021, electricity production was reported
 in the amount of 10,790,133 MWh, while for the same period last
 year it was 10,314,347 MWh.

Electricity consumption in the country decreased by 0.56 per
cent over the reporting period. Between January 1, 2021 and
March 21, 2021, 9,791,401 MWh of electricity were consumed,
while for the same period in 2020 consumption of 9,846,321 MWh
was reported, according to ESO.

The share of base plants from the beginning of the year to March
 21 compared to this period last year decreased by 4.16 per
cent. From 1 January 2021 to 21 March 2021, 8,619,507 MWh of
electricity was produced from base plants, while for the
specified period of 2020 the production was 8,993,230 MWh.

 For the compared period, ESO reported a decrease in the share
of renewable energy sources in the transmission network by 11.69
 per cent, as well as in the distribution network - by 11.60 per
 cent.

There is an increase in the share of electricity from hydropower
 plants by 177.85 per cent for the period January 1, 2021 -
March 21, 2021 compared to January 1, 2020 - March 21, 2020,
according to ESO data. NV/DT