site.btaEnergy Minister Petkova Presents Main Priorities of Development of Sector to EU Ambassadors in Bulgaria

113 ECONOMY-ENERGY-MINISTER-MEETING WITH EU AMBASSADORS

Energy Minister Petkova
Presents Main Priorities of Development of Sector
to EU Ambassadors in Bulgaria


Sofia, February 5 (BTA) - Meeting with the Ambassadors of EU member states in Bulgaria on Tuesday, Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova discussed the main priorities and challenges for the energy sector in Bulgaria, Petkova's Ministry said in a press release. The meeting was held on an initiative of the Romanian EU Presidency.

Petkova said that the priorities of the Bulgarian energy sector are the same as the priorities at the EU focus, including security of energy supplies, decarbonization of the economy on the basis of the specific characteristics of each country, the integration of the internal energy market, and innovations.

Diversification of the sources and routes of natural gas supplies is at the focus of attention of both the EU and Bulgaria, Pekova said. The Minister spoke about the importance of the Bulgaria-Greece gas inter-connector in this respect. She said that three key public procurement procedures will be finalized very soon, so that the actual construction works of the facility will start in May. The inter-connector is expected to be commissioned in 2020.

Petkova said also that Bulgaria will participate in the construction of the terminal for liquefied natural gas near Alexandroupolis in Greece. When the facility is working, Bulgaria will be able to have natural gas from more distant sources, such as the United States, Algeria, and Qatar, Petkova said.

Speaking about the security of energy supplies, Petkova provided details about the construction of power lines between Bulgaria and its neighbours: Romania, Greece and Serbia, which will contribute to achieving the EU target of at least 15 per cent system connectivity. Bulgaria works actively for the joining of the electricity markets with the neighbouring countries, with Romania and Greece in particular. Petkova said concrete results of the work with Romania are expected by the end of 2020, while Greece first needs to create its Day Ahead market for electricity.

The Minister also spoke about the future of coal-powered energy facilities and the development of the nuclear energy in Bulgaria. Petkova said that this country plans for these facilities to work until 2030, with a further horizon until 2050. She argued that the power stations work with local resources whose quantities will last for 60 more years, that these power stations provide up to 60 per cent of the electricity in Bulgaria during the winter season, and that they have invested considerable money in sulphur-purification equipment.

The EU Ambassadors asked Petkova more than 15 questions, mainly about the Belene nuclear power plant project, the prices on the electricity exchange, the development of the gas-transmission network, and oil and gas exploration in the Black Sea. ZH