site.btaBulgaria Is Ready to Help Ukraine Restore Its Electricity System

"Bulgaria - and its Energy Ministry in particular - is ready to help Ukraine restore its electricity system from the damage caused by the hostilities," caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov said in a video conference with his Ukrainian counterpart German Galushchenko on Tuesday. Malinov was quoted by his Ministry as saying that "timely and targeted efforts to this end are of crucial importance for Ukraine to prepare successfully for the winter season".

"Bulgaria has received a list of necessary equipment and expects this list to be prioritized shortly," the Energy Ministry press release reads. 

Malinov briefed Galushchenko on his upcoming meeting with EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, specifying that suitable EU financial instruments to support Ukraine in the recovery process will be high on the agenda.

Malinov and Galushchenko also discussed accelerating the process of delivering to Ukraine equipment intended for the Belene N-plant project. The Bulgarian Energy Minister said that he had preliminary talks on the matter with MPs, as a result of which there is a strong chance to finalize the deal in the coming months. "We perfectly realize the importance of this process and we will make every effort to speed it up as much as possible," Malinov said.

The two ministers also explored the options after Russian natural gas transit via Ukraine is suspended as from the beginning of 2025. Malinov told his counterpart about the possibility of Bulgargas supplying LNG through the terminals in Greece and Turkey and proposed to Galushchenko the formation of a joint working group to coordinate this process. In the Bulgarian Minister's words, there is "real solidarity in the EU about the need to keep both natural-gas transport and storage facilities in good condition. This is key to the security of the energy system."