Temenuzhka Petkova: ESO builds 465 km of power lines for BGN 490 million

ESO is implementing five projects of common European interest for the construction of 465 km of new 400 kilovolt power lines. This was said by the Minister of Energy Temenujka Petkov in response to a question from the GERB MP Desislava Todorova about projects of the Electricity System Operator (ESO). In addition to the projects, the company is working to expand four substations in the country, "said Minister Petkova, quoted by FOCUS News Agency. The Minister of Energy clarified that these projects have a total investment value of BGN 490 million.

"For the implementation of the projects, the company attracted BGN 180 million in grants from the European Connecting Europe Facility and BGN 30 million from the Kozloduy International Fund," Petkova said.

According to her, two of the projects for construction of internal 400 kilovolt power lines between substation "Maritsa Iztok" and substation "Burgas" and from substation "Maritsa Iztok" to TPP "Maritsa Iztok" 3 have already been completed and are to be put into operation.

In response to another parliamentary question, the minister explained that the government has taken absolutely all actions to support oil and gas exploration and exploration in the Black Sea. "Ensuring the country's energy security by continuing exploration in the deep Black Sea is one of the priorities in the government's management program. In this regard, the government has made a series of concessions to support exploration in Bulgarian territorial waters in the Black Sea," Temenuzhka Petkova said.

The Minister of Energy pointed out that the contract for exploration in block 1-21 "Khan Asparuh" was for a period of 5 years, and the Council of Ministers in 2018 extended it by two years, starting from January 27, 2018. "Subsequently, with Decision of the Council of Ministers No. 391 of June 16, 2020, the term of the permit has been extended for another two years, as of May 15, 2020. Currently, the contract for prospecting and exploration of mineral resources for block 1-21 "Khan Asparuh" is valid until 15 May 2022 ", added Petkova.

By Decision 814 of 16 October 2015, the Council of Ministers granted a permit for prospecting and exploration of oil and natural gas for a period of 5 years in area 1-14 "Silistar", to date the name of the block is block 1-14 "Khan Kubrat" Minister Petkova added that the research activities continue in area 1-14 "Khan Kubrat".

"As you can see, the government has taken absolutely every step to support exploration and exploration in the deep Black Sea, because we deeply believe that the greatest security in terms of supply, if we can prove that we have such stocks to they guarantee the extraction of oil and natural gas. What the government can do, it does through its support and decisions, "said Minister Petkova.