Malinov

Bulgaria has received the full payment for Russian natural gas transit for December, according to Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov. He explained that there has been no official confirmation from the US administration regarding the lifting of sanctions against Gazprombank, adding that the situation remains uncertain.

During a hearing, Acting Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov indicated that electricity prices might increase during the current heating season. He refrained from making a precise forecast but emphasized the expected rise in consumption.

Bulgaria may halt the transit of Russian gas to Serbia via the TurkStream pipeline starting in the new year if Gazprom fails to ensure payment compliance with U.S. sanctions against Gazprombank.

Bulgaria is positioned to assist Ukraine with electricity during the winter months, as confirmed in a recent meeting between Acting Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Herman Halushchenko.

Sofia's Mayor Vasil Terziev reassured residents that there are no risks for the upcoming heating season after a meeting with Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov. He stated that citizens should not be concerned about the heating season, emphasizing that Bulgargaz will continue to supply gas without interruption.

In the coming two months, the company "Kozloduy NPP - New Powers" is set to finalize an engineering contract with a consortium comprised of South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the American firm Westinghouse Electric Company. This announcement was made by Acting Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov, who is currently in Seoul meeting with Hyundai's executive director.

This morning, the European Prosecutor's Office gained access to the gas operator "Bulgartransgaz" with the assistance of local police, as reported by bTV. The European Commission has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, and the exact number of participants remains undisclosed.

Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova has raised concerns that Bulgaria might not receive the full second payment of 653 million euros under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). Petkova shared this warning during a parliamentary hearing, highlighting that several key commitments have yet to be fulfilled.

An informal agreement was reached on the possibility of Bulgargaz offering for transfer part of the rights under its agreement with Turkish energy company BOTAS ,signed on January 3, 2023, said caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov during a hearing in Parliament.

During his recent visit to Washington, Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov engaged in crucial discussions at the US State Department. Despite the tight schedule of Ambassador James O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Malinov managed to meet with him.