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From Bulgaria
14.10.2014 17:15
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In a statement released for the media today, the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum (BEMF) prompted a set of “imminent, tough and unpopular measures” aiming to bring stability back to the country’s energy sector. The NGO describes the current situation of the energy sector as extremely difficult and insists that adequate measures are taken to “reanimate it”.
BEMF pointed to several questionable large-scale power generation projects, political nominations of management, the uncontrollable growth of the debt of the National Electricity Company (NEK) and the complicated technical situation at gas transport grid operator Bulgartransgaz as the major challenges that need to be addressed immediately. BEMF also warned that the unreformed municipal heating utility “Toplofikatsia Sofia” is facing bankruptcy due to the opening of the wholesale power market to competition. The organization also critisised the inadequate measures against renewable energy producers and the persisting cross-subsidising of heating utilities and industrial power plants through the guaranteed purchase of their production.
BEMF suggests that NEK needs to be unbundled, forming four separate companies to cover investment, power production, public power supply and trading. This would guarantee the transparency of NEK’s expenses and incomes.
The organization also insists that RES producers should be included in the balancing of the national power system via an amendment of the existing Renewable Energy Act with changes to the current subsidy scheme to come. BEMF also tackles the need for long-term PPAs with AES Galabovo and CountourGlobal Maritsa East 3 to be re-negotiated using an approach similar to the strike price adopted by Poland and the U.K.
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