Tsvetelina Penkova: We export raw materials, and then pay double the price

We asked delaying the liberalization of household electricity prices because it was not clear how it would happen, and we should not put households at risk and citizens not being able to pay their bills.

This was shared by BSP MEP Tsvetelina Penkova in an interview with BNR.

“Basically, liberalization was a condition that we set ourselves in the Development and Sustainability Plan, but there were no clear deadlines. It was not bound by a deadline. The delay on payments is rather a ridiculous policy of the previous ruling majority. It is not by chance that the BSP also asked for this postponement, because it was not related to deadlines, on the contrary, it was more important to protect households and citizens. There is no requirement that we have to do it on time,” she commented.

Penkova recommended that the experts be heard, a “a large part said that the processes were not clear and could not predict what will be the risks and the increase in prices”.

Penkova explained about the success achieved in the European Parliament regarding energy and specifically about “critical raw materials” in our country, which are key for the production of high-tech components.

“The purpose of this document is to ensure the priorities to be followed by the members of the EP for the upcoming mandate. To guarantee the consistency of the policies achieved in Bulgaria, to protect them in the European institutions. On “critical raw materials” Bulgaria is in 6th place in Europe in terms of production and processing of non-ferrous metals – lead, copper and zinc,” explained Penkova.

According to her, the key point is that we are a major exporter, and nothing is being done for our economy:

“We export raw materials, it is made elsewhere and we pay double the price. The question is that there is a possibility for this to happen in Bulgaria – we have the specialists, there are mechanisms for financing from European funds. Tomorrow the Reindustrialization Regulation will be adopted of Europe with foreseen administrative relief and financing of strategic technologies. We have included 18 technologies and Bulgaria can benefit from technical relief, which will be given by the EU”.

The MEP said that determining the technology was a matter of national policy.

“We set the framework, but it is a matter of national policy and analysis to predict in which areas to develop. In addition to raw materials, we also have the availability of experts.” she added.

Tsvetelina Penkova summarized that there are two key things:

“The first is that nuclear energy, officially recognized as green and sustainable, can be financed not only by the state, but also by private individuals. And the second is that the list of reindustrialization includes technologies including nuclear technologies.”

“First, a specialized production chain must be built parts to serve the nuclear sector, because there is potential in Bulgaria. The second key thing is that there will be European funding for the nuclear sector. The third is not to overlook that for independent nuclear power and raw materials there must be a political framework for the extraction of uranium using new technologies that protect the environment and Bulgaria has potential,” said Penkova.

Regarding the transition to the DPS of her until recently colleague from the BSP in the EP, Elena Yoncheva Penkova said:

“Political nomadism undermines trust in politicians, it is not right to play with voters. The change of political families… where are the ideology and policies we are fighting for”.

Listen to the entire interview in the audio file.