site.btaSocialists Lash out at Outgoing Government for Mismanaging Energy Sector

Socialists Lash out at Outgoing Government for Mismanaging Energy Sector

Sofia, January 23 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) Monday lashed out at the outgoing government for what they see as mismanagement of the energy sector. They held a special news conference where Tasko Ermenkov MP said that thanks to GERB's policy the National Electricity Company (NEK) has lost millions of leva during the ongoing spell of freezing temperatures.

He warned that if the harsh weather persists, Bulgaria has no more reserves to meet the higher-than-usual electricity demand.

MP Zhelyu Boychev said that on January 8 the Bulgarian Electricity System Operator sought emergency assistance from Romania and later stopped electricity exports from Bulgaria. Last week Bulgaria also allegedly imported electricity from Turkey.

Ermenkov commented that every time emergency import of electricity is made, producers go off balance and energy security is at risk. "We are a high-risk factor for the whole region," he said.

The Socialists said that the coal contingency reserves that coal-fuelled power plants are required to keep, are below the statutory level, and that water reservoirs are half-empty.