Bulgaria faces a difficult winter test because of rising energy prices in Europe and accumulated problems in the national energy sector. Former Energy Minister Alexander Nikolov issued the warning.
In his view, higher natural gas prices are putting pressure on electricity and heating costs and creating additional inflation. The financial condition of Toplofikatsia Sofia and Bulgargaz will further complicate the regulator’s decisions on prices after January 1.
Nikolov outlined two possible scenarios. Under the first, prices for end consumers would be kept down at the cost of new debts and losses for the energy companies. Under the second, prices would rise, accelerating inflation even further.
“Both scenarios ultimately come at the expense of the population,” he said. In his view, socially vulnerable groups will be affected most severely.
Commenting on forecasts of a 25% increase in heating prices, Nikolov did not confirm a specific figure. He said that under normal market mechanisms, and without decisions by the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission that, in his assessment, artificially moderate prices for Toplofikatsia Sofia customers, the increase could be even higher.
The former minister stressed that the problems of the capital’s heating company had been postponed for years. He said a concession was not the only possible solution. The company’s assets and potential could support investments repaid through future revenues, but this would require joint action by the state and Sofia Municipality.
Nikolov also expressed doubts that some funds in the system were being used for “political engineering”. He linked the absence of a lasting solution to political dependencies, weak oversight and a shortage of expert capacity.
The former minister also discussed the future of Lukoil. He said the state should take part in talks concerning the strategic asset or at least be properly informed. He recalled that Bulgaria had a “golden share” and legal control mechanisms that the administration should use effectively.
Nikolov criticized the way the position of special administrator had been introduced, describing its powers as excessively broad. He said the ban on fuel exports had been unjustified, worsened the company’s financial results and harmed the state budget.
He said lifting the restriction had been necessary, but that this alone did not remove the risk of possible arbitration claims. In his view, direct talks should also have been held to settle the issue.
According to the former minister, the refinery’s management should not be assessed solely by whether supplies continue without interruption. There must also be clarity about how final fuel prices are formed, which expenses are recognized, how revenues are distributed and what the impact is on the budget.
Source: fakti.bg
|
валутни курсове
460 | 15 Oct. 2026 | 21:48
Mobile verison
RSS
