site.btaEnergy Act Amendments to Liberalize Gas Market Pass at Committee Level

113 ECONOMY - PARLIAMENT - GAS - LIBERALIZATION

Energy Act Amendments
to Liberalize Gas Market
Pass at Committee Level


Sofia, June 21 (BTA) - The Energy Committee in the National Assembly Friday approved amendments to the Energy Act which are aimed to liberalize the natural gas market in Bulgaria. With 12 votes in favour and 3 abstentions, the Committee okayed the draft provisions, which will create a gas trading platform.

The meeting was attended by Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova, Energy and Water Regulatory Commission Chair Ivan Ivanov, the European Commission's Energy DG Deputy Director-General Klaus-Dieter Borchardt and the chief executives of Bulgargaz, Bulgartransgaz and the Bulgarian Energy Holding.

Energy Committee Chair Valentin Nikolov said Bulgaria is a "natural hub" for gas distribution in the region because it is home to 80 per cent of the infrastructure. According to Borchardt, the country's development as a regional gas hub requires expanding its gas storage capacities. LN/VE