Rumen Radev insisted on a clear strategy for Bulgarian energy – Bulgaria

R the development of the Bulgarian energy sector should not be based on spontaneous solutions, but on a clear strategy that preserves the autonomy and independence of our energy system. This was stated by President Rumen Radev during a meeting at “Dondukov” 2 with representatives of the KNSB management and KT “Podkrepa” on the occasion of their requests to postpone the liberalization of the electricity market and to protect workers in the energy and coal mining sectors. The meeting was held at the initiative of the trade union organizations, the presidency announced.

Protest of energy workers and miners in Sofia

“Politics and legislation should be made with concern and responsibility towards Bulgaria, and not under the pressure of protests,” the president said. He reminded that the veto imposed by him at the end of last year was precisely for what protests are being held today. “For the changes in the Energy Law, there was no impact assessment, and we see today where the impact is – on the street,” the president pointed out, adding that in the changes to the law adopted last year, there were no clear mechanisms and calculations on how people would be compensated. In the reasons for the veto imposed by the head of state, it was stated that the standard of living of the majority of Bulgarian citizens remains the lowest in the EU, and the planned changes may make it even more difficult for people who already have a hard time meeting their basic living expenses. The President also reminded that the deletion of the figure of the public supplier and the elimination of the energy mix could cause a stoppage of electricity production from the Maritsa-Iztok 2 TPP and would threaten the operation of the “Mini Maritsa-Iztok” as early as 2024.

“I wonder why the veto had to be rejected then, and the same people who rejected it, today with the same reasons, bring a decision that finally happens with a serious delay. Why did we have to come to today’s protest?” asked the president and called on the people’s representatives to reject the liberalization, although using the reasons of the imposed veto, which they have already rejected. The head of state called for energy not to be partisan, and for decisions about its future to be guaranteed not with empty political promises, but with clear calculations, mechanisms and strategy.

The presidential institution and the official governments appointed by the head of state have always supported the fair demands of the Bulgarian energy industry for the necessary measures to guarantee stability and sustainability in the development of the Bulgarian energy industry, stressed Rumen Radev. According to the president, the accumulation of problems in the sector is due to the lack of strategy and the attempts to partisan it. He recalled that after the expiration of the old strategy already in 2019, the interim government of Galab Donev developed a detailed and clear new document, as a proposal to all parliamentary groups and to the next regular government, but until the adoption of a new strategy, it was never has arrived. The President also recalled the actions of the interim government regarding the Security of the Electricity System Fund, as well as the lack of clarity about what happened to the BGN 890 million left by the interim cabinet in the fund, whose function is to support the sector in case of need.

The National Assembly approved BGN 250 million annually for “Mini Maritsa East”

Rumen Radev expressed regret that many of the strategic issues for the development of the energy sector in Europe remain unresolved and gave an example of the lack of clarity surrounding the so-called Green Deal. The head of state has repeatedly called during his participation in the meetings of the European Council that Bulgaria should not be pressured to hastily abandon basic capacities such as coal and nuclear energy before affordable and effective solutions for storing energy from renewable energy sources are available. The President also recalled his insistence to the EU that the specifics of the countries be taken into account when reducing carbon emissions, as well as to reduce their price, for which he received support from the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, but this issue also remains unresolved.

The representatives of the trade union organizations thanked for the opportunity to hold a meeting with the head of state, as well as for the consistent position of the presidential institution in defense of the autonomy of the Bulgarian energy industry. The president of KT “Podkrepa” Dimitar Manolov made a proposal for a broad public discussion dedicated to the future of the Bulgarian energy industry, to be held under the auspices of the presidential institution.

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