Heavy industry companies will not survive the anticipated increase in prices of electricity and natural gas from July 1, according to Politimi Paunova, Chair of the Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry (BAMI).

In a Tuesday interview, Paunova noted that the need t inject gas supplies into the Chiren underground gas storage could not be an excuse for the huge gas price increase.

She went on to say that state-owned gas supplier Bulgargaz and the State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation (DKEVR) were playing theatrical performances about gas prices.

"I find it humiliating to witness these performances," Paunova declared, adding a request by the National Electric Company (NEK) or Bulgargaz for a certain price hike was always followed by a representative of the energy watchdog vowing a lower increase.

She explained that the same scenario had been played over and over again for the past ten years.

"These are 100% theatrical performances – there's the good cop and the bad cop, and then it's "Hurrah! We're saved! The increase will be 5% rather than 15%", and then in 3 months' time the history repeats itself.To me, as a citizen, this behavior is humiliating," she stressed.

Paunova was adamant that the heavy industry would not survive a 10% increase in power rates and a 5% increase in gas prices, as announced by DKEVR Chair Angel Semerdzhiev on Tuesday.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!