Maritza East

Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has turned down a proposal by employers' organizations that potential investors should be sought to replace AES and ContourGlobal as shareholders at thermal power plants.

The heads of four employers' associations submitted tip-offs with the prosecuting authority for three types of irregularities in the energy sector.

Bulgaria's Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (KEVR) has approved the power purchase agreement between US-owned thermal power plant ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 TPP and the National Electric Company (NEK).

US-owned thermal power plant AES 3C Maritza East I and Bulgaria's National Electric Company (NEK) have finalized the agreement on amending the long-term contract for purchasing electricity generated by the TPP.

The agreement was negotiated in April and it concerns the capacity price of AES 3C Maritza East I, according to a media statement of the US-owned TPP.

Bulgaria's long-term contracts for electricity purchases from two local coal-fired plants, owned by US-based AES Corporattion and ContourGlobal, and from renewable energy sources (RES) are at the core of the financial deficits at the National Electricity Company NEK, according to a parliamentary report unveiled on Thursday.

Two bills introducing changes to Bulgaria's Energy Act passed first reading in Parliament on Tuesday.

The two bills had been submitted by center-right party Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) and right-wing formation the Reformist Bloc.

Nationalist formation the Patriotic Front (PF) has made clear that it will continue to back the government.

Velari Simeonov, Co-Chair of PF, announced at a press conference in Parliament that the coalition was pleased with the developments on five of the seven points PF had brought up one month ago in their ultimatum to the government.

Electricity generated for exports and for the domestic market should be equally levied with the "liabilities to society" tax, Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said.

US-based AES has welcomed the deal it signed with Bulgaria to amend the long-term power purchase agreement which its Bulgarian power plant AES 3C Maritza East 1 has with state-owned National Electricity Company (NEK).

US-based ContourGlobal on Thursday hailed the deal it had signed with the government in Sofia ahead of the planned change in the electricity purchase agreement for its Bulgarian power plant.