Bulgaria's New Energy Mix Keeps Central Role of TPPs, Renewables

Business » ENERGY | August 11, 2015, Tuesday // 22:06
Bulgaria: Bulgaria's New Energy Mix Keeps Central Role of TPPs, Renewables Photo by BGNES

AES and ContourGlobal thermal power plants, alongside renewable energy sources, will remain the primary sources in the energy mix of Bulgaria, a recent document shows.

The lates pricing decision of energy watchdog KEVR shows that AES Martiza East 1 and ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 sets theire share in Bulgaria's energy system at 20% and 25.2%, respectively.

Renewables, which currently produce the most expensive energy (and which has had for years to be bought under preferential conditions, in line with legislation adopted in early 2010s), form 18.8% of the mix, according to the ruling, 3e-news.net, a website specialized in energy, reported on Monday.

State-owned Maritsa Iztok 2 TPP and the Kozloduy NPP have seen a substantial decrease in their respective shares - now at 4.1% and 6.7%.

This comes, however, just after the government had explained it would take Maritsa Iztok 2 out of the regulated market.

The rest is generated by heating utilities (16.3%) and the hydropower plant owned by the National Electricity Company NEK (8.75%).

Bulgaria is trying to gradually slide toward energy market liberalization, with only household consumers currently remaining within the regulated market (only 6000 customers, in a nationl of 7.2 million, have left it as of end-July).

It is also seeking to tackle the BGN 3.7 B worth debt of NEK through a number of measures, including an increase in power prices for businesses, a measure that has been in force since August 1.

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Tags: AES Maritza East 1, ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3, Kozloduy NPP, renewable energy sources, Maritsa Iztok 2, National Electricity Company, NEK

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