A first draft of Bulgaria’s energy strategy to 2020 has been published by the Ministry of the Economy, Energy and Tourism.
The strategy, which aims to produce more reliable, effective and cleaner energy, was produced in cooperation with the Bulgarian Energy Institute AD and can be viewed at www.mi.government.bg
The strategy identifies Bulgaria’s key energy challenges as:
- high dependency on imports – 70% of Bulgaria’s energy resources are imported, with almost all oil & gas and nuclear imports coming from Russia
- becoming more eco-friendly – as the world seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the effects of climate change
- an economy with a high energy intensity: although energy efficiency has increased, the cost of converting energy into GDP is 89% higher than in the EU.
The main aim of the strategy is to develop a highly technological, reliable and secure energy system that meets EU standards, maximises the use of Bulgaria’s available resources and provides the maximum protection for customers.
The strategy outlines five priorities:
- security of the energy supply
- reaching renewable energy targets
- increasing energy efficiency
- developing a competitive energy market
- social support for vulnerable customers
These priorities determine the Government’s vision for energy development, including:
- maintaining energy as the priority branch of the economy
- maintaining a stable, secure and reliable energy system
- focusing on clean and low-emission energy
- achieving a balance between quality, quantity and price for electricity from renewable sources, nuclear energy, coal and natural gas-based electricity
- ensuring transparent, effective and highly professional management of state-owned energy companies
Diversify sources of natural gas
Bulgaria’s security and independence requires the sources and routes of natural gas to be diversified through means such as:
- the use of LNG and CNG terminals
- efforts to build [two-way] links from Greece, Turkey, Serbia and Romania
- extending the capacity of the current gas storage in Chiren
- building new gas storage facilities
- supporting the development of alternative sources of natural gas (shale gas and deep-water drilling in the Black Sea). Shale gas is an unexploited resource and could reduce dependency on Russia.
Better use of local energy resources
This means exploiting existing coal resources as much as possible, with international and State support for new Carbon Capture and Storage schemes to replace capacity from local coal.
Nuclear energy
Units 5 and 6 of NPP Kozloduy will continue to be used and nuclear energy will continue to be developed in an attempt to balance the need to use available energy resources as well as comply with EU clean energy objectives. The building of a national nuclear waste facility is another key priority.
Renewable energy
National energy policy will make it a priority to exceed the target of getting 16% of energy from renewable sources from 2020 onwards, making maximum use of Bulgaria’s hydro-energy potential from Mesta, Arda and other rivers as well as energy from sources such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. Other priorities include the use of smart grids and hybrid cars.
Energy efficiency
Priorities for improving energy efficiency are:
- limiting losses from transmission of electricity
- increasing the effectiveness of combined heat and power production
- making better use of public transport
- improving the energy characteristics of existing buildings
- increasing the percentage of households with gas connections from the current 1.5% to 30% by 2020
- modernizing and stabilizing central heating companies with combined heat and power facilities
Electricity exchange
The Government will create an electricity exchange to create a more trusted and transparent environment for electricity trading.
Investment
The Government aims to improve the climate for investment in high technology. It will support private investment in the power sector as well as supporting the building of new combined heat and power stations and other nationally important projects.
Feedback on the strategy can be given at eo.enstrategy@mee.government.bg or by fax to +359-2-987 09 38.
