Stabilization and diversification are the key priorities in the energy sector in 2014
"Stabilization and diversification - this will be the key priorities in the energy sector in 2014", said the Minister of Economy and Energy Dragomir Stoynev outlining the policies that the Ministry will follow in its work in terms of the energy sector this year. The state company BEH will continue to have a key role in efforts to balance the energy system and will not be closed. "The forecasts for failure of the National Electricity Company, which are made cyclically do not come true and NEC will continue with much better pace rhythmically to pay debts to the contractors", said Minister Stoynev.
Minister Dragomir Stoynev commented at a press conference in MEE that the price of electricity for households and businesses will remain stable at levels that were achieved from 1 January along with the last reduction. The export of electricity runs hourly 1300 MW, which compared to May 2013, before the release of additives for transmission, is several times more. Minister Stoynev commits to continue the dialogue with the miners, who, as he said, are already convinced that MEE perform the promised and the strategic enterprise "Mini Maritsa Iztok" EAD will work fully. "In December 2013 there were produced 3.333 million tons of coal - the highest December yield in the history of the company in the last 20 years", argued Minister Stoynev.
The Strategic projects that MEE is working now, will continue to develop in 2014, because in addition to the obvious benefits for the economy and employment, they are extremely important for the diversification of the energy sources. Such by the words of Minister Stoynev are South Stream where by initiative of Bulgaria, the European Commission adopted the role of the leader in the negotiations with Russia for building the pipeline and its status.
"The project for the construction of a gas interconnector Bulgaria - Greece is in an advanced stage, it is in the stage of approval of the agreed route and sites in both countries and the design of the gas system. The other project to build a gas connection Bulgaria - Serbia is also progressing its implementation and in the end of November 2013 MEE launched an open procedure for procurement for the design, supervision and the supervision consultancy services for the construction of the connection. The feedback Bulgaria - Romania is actually built as currently are conducted the last test works and the putting into operation of the pipeline", said Minister Dragomir Stoynev.
In the field of nuclear energy, he said, were agreed € 293 million to continue the decommissioning of Units 1-4 of Kozloduy NPP through the next financial period of the EU. The initial proposals by the European Commission were for 185 million. An EIA report for the construction of the seventh unit at the Kozloduy NPP is ready. This is another project of strategic and long-term importance for the energy and the economy of Bulgaria. The feasibility study for the construction of new nuclear unit is also completed. The acts about selection of a preferred site are in the final stage, it was decided at the Council of Ministers to open negotiations with Westinghouse Electric for structuring and financing of a project to build a seventh unit at the Kozloduy NPP by the AP-1000 technology.
