The Energy Committee adopted the State Budget Bill on first reading

The MPs from the Energy Committee of the National Assembly adopted the draft Law on the State Budget of Bulgaria for 2025 on first reading. The Deputy Minister of Energy Georgi Samandov and the Chairman of the EWRC Ivan Ivanov expressed agreement with the planned funds.

The opinion of the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency Tsanko Bachiiski was slightly different.

The projected revenues of 487 million 163 thousand and 500 leva, which is an increase of 101 million leva. compared to last year (385 million 212 thousand leva) will allow the Ministry of Energy to meet its goals for 2025, said Deputy Minister of Energy Georgi Samandov.

The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) also had no comments on the draft budget, its chairman Ivan Ivanov announced. He agreed with the thesis that revenues should exceed expenses, noting that for EWRC in this regard an increase in revenues by 43% compared to expenses was envisaged.

The opinion of the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency Tsanko Bachiiski was slightly different, who motivated himself accordingly. He announced that a proposal for a change had been sent to the Budget Commission. It envisages an increase in revenues by 1 million 550 thousand leva and in expenses by 1 million leva, which means a net increase for the NRA budget of 550 thousand leva.

The chairman of the nuclear regulator motivated the request with the request submitted by the Kozloduy-New Power Plant for a permit to select a site for the 8th unit, which means that a fee of 1 million leva is expected to be paid by the end of the year. In addition, modernization of the 5th and 6th units of the Kozloduy NPP is also pending, which will increase costs. Tsanko Bachiiski also explained that the requested change in the NRA budget is also related to the aging staff - the average age of employees is 50, one third are pensioners, there are 15 vacancies, and licensing processes related to the two new nuclear units are pending. "We are not competitive," said the chairman of the NRA, pointing out the difference in pay, for example, with the Kozloduy NPP. In addition, according to him, the NRA gives much more than it receives. In support of his words, he pointed out that over the past 5 years the NRA has contributed to the budget revenues of 16 million. BGN

In response to a question from PP-DB MP Radoslav Ribarski about the funds in the “Electricity System Security Fund” (ESSF), Deputy Minister Samandov announced that the deficit is currently BGN 685 million. He refused to commit to an answer on whether the deficit should be maintained.

Thus, with 13 votes “for”, 3 “against” and 2 “abstentions”, the energy committee reported the adoption of the budget on first reading.

However, the majority of the deputies rejected the draft Law on the Protection of Strategic Energy Facilities, submitted by Kostadin Kostadinov from Vazrazhdane. Among the main reasons for refusing to consider this bill are concerns about unconstitutional texts, overlapping with texts in a number of other laws, including the Energy Law.