Petkova: Arguments for an Electricity Price Increase Are Completely Justified

Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova said at the opening of the Bulatom Nuclear Forum in Varna on Wednesday that the State Agency of Energy Regulation's arguments for raising the price of electricity are fully justified and are not just related to the Bulgarian reality.

The Minister added that the fact that the value of carbon emissions has risen abruptly should not be disregarded while commenting on this issue.

"We are definitely not talking about closing the coal-fired power plants in Bulgaria, they are basic capacities of the Bulgarian power industry," Petkova noted. She explained that the government will continue to protect them because without them the country's energy system could hardly be balanced.

A number of actions have been taken to improve the financial situation of TPP Maritsa East 2. The Energy Minister noted that the company was having difficulty precisely because of the cost of paying for emissions.

"We are working on an option to provide a mechanism to support the capacity of this type of electricity producers, and by the end of the year we have to present to the EC our vision on this issue," added Petkova.

Source: BТА