Bulgaria to Rely Less on Russia, Plevneliev Tells Corriere

Business » ENERGY | April 1, 2012, Sunday // 18:21
Bulgaria: Bulgaria to Rely Less on Russia, Plevneliev Tells Corriere Italian President Giorgio Napolitano (R) and Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev (L), during their meeting in Rome, Italy, 30 March 2012. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgaria will aim to diversify its gas supplies and improve the efficiency of its energy sector, Corriere della Sera reported, citing an interview with President Rosen Plevneliev.

"In order to do this, we need to have strategic vision, construct new facilities for energy production and focus on quality, not only on quantity," Bulgaria's head of state said in the interview, which he gave during his visit to Rome.

Bulgaria currently imports 90% of its gas from OAO Gazprom, Russia's natural-gas export monopoly, according to the newspaper. It comments that Bulgaria's desire to diversify energy supplies is understandable.

Asked about the Bulgarian government's recent decision to abandon plans to build the 2,000 megawatt Belene nuclear power plant on the Danube River, Plevneliev said:

"This decision is very brave, but it is the right one."

Bulgaria abandoned at the end of the month plans to build a new nuclear power station at Belene, close to the Romanian border.

The country's deputy finance minister said the cabinet wants to build a gas-powered plant on the site instead.

At the end of the interview President Plevneliev calls on the European Union to support Bulgaria in its integration into the European energy network for transmission of natural gas and not allow Russia punish Bulgaria, as it has punished Ukraine.

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Tags: Italy, Russia, Bulgaria, Rosen Plevneliev

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