site.btaEnergy Minister: Sofia Heating Utility to Prioritize Repairs for Schools and Kindergartens

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov announced here Tuesday that repair works planned by Sofia's Toplofikatsia heating utility in the Druzhba neighbourhood will begin with priority at schools and kindergartens. The decision was agreed on Monday with the utility’s Executive Director, he said.

Stankov made the announcement during the Compass 2025 national energy conference. The event, focused on Bulgaria’s major energy projects, was organized by the Institute for Strategies and Analyses and opened with remarks from Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and Vice President Iliana Yotova.

“Yesterday was particularly important,” the Minister said. “We agreed with the Executive Director of Toplofikatsia Sofia that schools and kindergartens must come first. It’s essential to ensure the learning process continues uninterrupted. Imagine the impact on young families if these facilities aren’t ready for the heating season — if parents have to stay home to care for their children, it creates an unnecessary burden.”

Stankov also addressed concerns about an imminent heating outage in the Druzhba neighborhood. “We’ve been assured that the initial plan to cut heating for 90 days will not happen. I’ve insisted that any disruption be limited to a window of 3 to 10 days at most.”

He also noted that the issue of Toplofikatsia’s performance is frequently politicized. “On the one hand, the company doesn’t complete repairs on time; on the other, it’s late in paying for its gas — both of which directly impact Bulgargaz’s financial health,” he said.

Speaking on Bulgargaz, Stankov emphasized that its stability is also influenced by the current gas supply contract with Turkey’s Botas. “Renegotiating this agreement is critically important for the overall financial stability of Bulgaria’s energy sector,” he said.

The minister also outlined progress on key national energy projects and reaffirmed Bulgaria’s leading role in Southeast Europe’s energy market. “Our country’s energy mix is unique, and that makes us a major player in the region,” he said. “But being an energy exporter is not a given. If we don’t plan for new capacities and fresh investment today, we won’t be able to sustain this position in the future.”

Stankov concluded with an announcement that a new deepwater drilling operation in the Black Sea will begin by the end of November. He expressed optimism about the project’s potential, saying it could bring up to 30% in additional revenues for the state.