Sofia, February 1 (BTA) – Bulgaria’s energy sector is dependent on Russian gas supplies and on electricity production by the Kozloduy N-plant, and now this sector must be made competitive and independent, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said here Tuesday. He was speaking at The World Ahead 2022 dinner gala held in Sofia by The Economist.

“We have a huge problem in the energy sector: 30 per cent of the electricity is produced by Kozloduy and nearly 100
per cent of the gas supplies come from Russia, making it fully dependent. This is why we need to be guided by two strategies: to make it as competitive as possible and as independent as possible within the framework of the Green Deal,” said Petkov.

He believes that opportunities should be sought in the “sun-batteries strategy”.  “Fortunately, the battery technologies are improving, the costs are coming down and the entire new Bulgarian energy strategy should be in line with the idea for cheap and independent energy.”

Petkov expressed hope that finally, after waiting for 13 years, the gas interconnector with Greece will go into operation. He said that his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis and himself have become “project managers of sorts”. “I am sending him updates about the progress the Greek contractors [in the Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnector project] have made. I had to apologize to him for that – this is not something for prime ministers to do – but the interconnector is terribly important for us”.

With its access to the world’s largest market, the available logistics to reach this market easily, with its maritime border, Bulgaria should be Europe’s eastern gateway – but is not, said Petkov.

He believes that what needs to change is people’s way of thinking.  “It is important to have working state institutions. We need to take responsibility for what we do,” he said, urging Bulgarian people “to poll up their sleeves”. LN/

 

Petkov expressed hope that finally, after waiting for 13 years, the gas interconnector with Greece will go into operation. He said that his Greek counterpart Kiriakos Mitsotakis and himself have become “project managers of sorts”. “I am sending him updates about the progress the Greek contractors [in the Bulgaria-Greece gas interconnector project] have made. I had to apologize to him for that – this is not something for prime ministers to do – but the interconnector is terribly important for us”.

 

With its access to the world’s largest market, the available logistics to reach this market easily, with its maritime border, Bulgaria should be Europe’s eastern gateway – but is not, said Petkov.

 

He believes that what needs to change is people’s way of thinking.  “It is important to have working state institutions. We need to take responsibility for what we do,” he said, urging Bulgarian people “to poll up their sleeves”. LN/

Source: Sofia