EWRC approved the price of natural gas for January at 81.94 BGN/MWh
The increase in the price of natural gas is lower than previously announced and this is good news for Bulgarian business and household consumers
The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission approved the price of natural gas for January at 81.94 BGN/MWh, excluding access, transmission, excise and VAT prices. At this price, Bulgargaz EAD will sell natural gas to end suppliers and to persons who have been issued a license for the production and transmission of heat energy. The regulator approved the price after an analysis of the prices submitted by Bulgargaz EAD on 01.01.2025. current data forming the price of natural gas for January.
The price mix includes the entire agreed quantity of Azerbaijani natural gas supplied via the Bulgaria-Greece Interconnector (IGB), according to the long-term contract with Azerbaijan. These quantities are important for achieving a favorable price for the blue fuel. Bulgargaz has concluded two contracts for the supply of liquefied natural gas (LNG) with traders, following an organized auction with requirements for a minimum delivery price and a proposed payment method. The price mix for the month also includes quantities of production from the Chiren UGS.
Although the approved price of 81.94 BGN/MWh is higher than the price for December by 7.97%, it is lower than the one initially announced by Bulgargaz EAD and remains competitive for Bulgarian business and household consumers of natural gas. For about two weeks, the TTF index decreased to a price even slightly below 40 EUR/MWh, but today it is high, for which there is a reason and this is the termination of natural gas supplies through Ukraine to several Eastern European countries. As for Bulgaria - there is no danger to the security of supplies. The occupancy rate of the underground gas storage facility in Chiren as of 30.12.2025 is 73.74%, which is higher than the average for the European Union (72.72%).
The approved price of natural gas includes the component of the price of natural gas at the entrance to the gas transmission networks, the component for the activity "public supply" under Art. 17, para. 7 of the NRCPG and the component for compensation of costs under Art. 11a, para. 2 of the NRCPG, covering the costs of "Bulgargaz" EAD for storing quantities in the gas storage facility in "Chiren", in fulfillment of obligations under the Emergency Action Plan.
The provided quantities cover the commitments of the public supplier for the month of January to the final suppliers and district heating companies, as well as the quantities under bilateral contracts with industrial customers.
The decision of the EWRC to approve the price of natural gas for the month of January 2025 will be published on the regulator's website.